Mande popular music and cultural policies in West Africa

During the independence era in West Africa
(1958-1984) many nations embarked on ambitious
programs aimed at rejuvenating their traditional
arts. These programs were realised through new
cultural policies such as authenticité, with music
being a prime focus. In the 1960s West African
governments created dozens of orchestras throughout
the region. They paid the musicians a salary, bought
them musical instruments, and instructed them to look at the past for inspiration. Herein lies the
foundation for such famous orchestras as Bembeya Jazz
and the Super Rail Band, groups who were at the
centre of a cultural renaissance which inspired the
whole continent. This book examines the major
orchestras and musicians of the independence era, and
explains the role of the government and griots in the
creation of the new musical styles. The text is
supported through biographies of musicians,
descriptions of traditional musical instruments, and
extensive discographies of African recordings.

Autorentext

Dr Graeme Counsel received his PhD in Cultural Studies and a MMus
from the University of Melbourne. His research has been funded by
leading institutions including the British Library. In 2008 the
Guinean government recognized his contributions to culture
through the medal of the Palme Académique en Or and a Diplôme
d'Honneur.

Klappentext

During the independence era in West Africa
(1958-1984) many nations embarked on ambitious
programs aimed at rejuvenating their traditional
arts. These programs were realised through new
cultural policies such as authenticité, with music
being a prime focus. In the 1960s West African
governments created dozens of orchestras throughout
the region. They paid the musicians a salary, bought
them musical instruments, and instructed them to
"look at the past" for inspiration. Herein lies the
foundation for such famous orchestras as Bembeya Jazz
and the Super Rail Band, groups who were at the
centre of a cultural renaissance which inspired the
whole continent. This book examines the major
orchestras and musicians of the independence era, and
explains the role of the government and griots in the
creation of the new musical styles. The text is
supported through biographies of musicians,
descriptions of traditional musical instruments, and
extensive discographies of African recordings.