Strategies for music education in Africa: Towards a meaningful progression from tradition to modern

Abstract

There are three stage of music education in traditional Africa. The first stage inducts a new born baby into feeling the sensations of musical pulse and sound as a sympathetic participant till the age of about two years. The second stage focuses on inculcating the sense of rhythm from the ages of about two to eight years. The third stage is music education for life; and starts from the age of eight, by which time gifted children could be recruited into adult groups. Specialists emerge on such specialised aspects of musical creativity and performance as master instruments, master singing, dance, theatre, etc. The objectives of music education in African cultures are human oriented. Yet modern music education in African countries has not derived from the theoretical content and performance principles of traditional music. Pedagogic models for the teaching of any aspect of African traditional musical practices should be founded on authentic African musical thinking, and based thereon, develop modern techniques while accruing inter-cultural sensibilities that would enhance modern, world interaction.