AFRICAN MUSIC

"Jerusalema" by KG

By: Anne

What does music mean to the Africans? How is it significant and how does it influence in their daily lives? Music and dance have played a significant part in people's capacity to communicate and commemorate events since the beginning of time, with a variety of sounds heralding key festivities. Music is a social activity in Africa that practically everyone partakes in. With varied customs coupled by a tune, music displays African values. Music is used to commemorate many significant occasions, such as weddings, births, and rites of passage. Digging, cutting, and harvesting are all accompanied by work songs. There are songs of praise and criticism, as well as songs that describe historical events. As a result, music is frequently played in public places such as streets, courtyards, and town squares.

Over the years, African music has been evolving, expressing qualities of really diverse music. Music which is composed of very unique tempo, tunes, and flow. They make music for the following purposes such as to express vital sentiments and messages, to celebrate major events such as birth, marriage, puberty, and death, to protest against a ruler, a relative, or a tax collector, to educate their young, to provide entertainment, to cure the ill, and to ease the load of hard work. Till this day, various instruments can still be clearly heard in African music, which is amazing as they’re not only making music for a purpose, yet to express a message as well, a message expressing that they don’t need to change in order to fit in this generation’s standard just to get notice or be heard, rather they let the music speak for itself. And a great example for this is Jerusalema by KG.

 

During the COVID-19 pandemic in recent months, a song named Jerusalema, recorded by South African DJ Master KG, has gone viral on social media. Jerusalema is a symbol of the opportunity for our divided communities to come together. Many individuals wish for peace and unity. Despite this, we are met with fighting and turmoil on a daily basis. We yearn for a world ruled by peace, love, and pleasure. Jerusalema is made to express vital sentiments and messages. Their purpose was fulfilled as their song went viral and heard by a lot of people. It inspired and touched the hearts of a thousands. 

References:

Mlambo, N. (2020, October 20). Jerusalema – The Dance, The Meaning, The Theology. The Gospel Coalition Africa. https://africa.thegospelcoalition.org/article/jerusalema/

Openmic Productions. (2019, December 13). Master KG - Jerusalema [Feat. Nomcebo] (Official Music Video). Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCZVL_8D048

Wendy, N. (2020, May 25). The Significance of Sound and Music in African Culture. Wilderness Safaris. https://wilderness-safaris.com/blog/posts/the-significance-of-sound-and-music-in-african-culture