1. Music of Sub-Saharan Africa
Sarah Saxon

2. Location
Sub-Saharan Africa lies south of the Sahara Desert- shaded green

3. Ceremonies
The Bira
A Shona religious ceremony involving spirit possession
Mbira players- musical specialists who perform at ceremony
Men and women join by clapping and dancing
Singers use vocables- rythmic syllables
Mbira: wooden board with staggered metal keys

4. The Mande of West Africa
Nyamalo: craft specialists including professional musicians
Donkilo- basic sung melody of Mande jali songs
Kora: a bridge harp that has 21 strings and a range just over 3 octaves
Sataro: speechlike vocal style performed by Mande jalolu
Kora

5. The Ewe of Ghana Dance-drumming traditions performed
Among the Ewe, musical performance is less frequent
Ewe believe that if you are a good drummer, you inherited a spirit of an ancestor who was a good drummer

6. Instruments African musical performances include all major instruments
Percussion, skin-headed drums, winds, and strings
Vocal music is very emphasized

7. Instruments Percussion Drums
Lamellaphones are most widespread and important
Also includes bells, scrapers, and rattles
Drums
Large variety of African drums
Power of the drum expresses the elevated nature of aristocracy
African drums usually carved from a single wooden log

8. Instruments Wind Stringed
Trumpets made from metal or animal horns are widely played throughout sub-Saharan Africa
Stringed
Harps are also used throughout sub-Saharan Africa
The musical bow is the oldest and most widespread stringed instrument used in Africa