The Purpose Behind African Folk

When discussing these two genres, it’s important to note both their similarities and differences when it comes to the intent or purpose of the music. In Sub-Saharan African Folk, one potential purpose was religious influence. Most music was performed during religious celebrations, and was often a way of communicating with their ancestors. In Zimbabwe specifically, gatherings called bira were held to interact with a family’s ancestral line, and music creates an important part of this. Hosho and Mbira players are specially hired to play during these gatherings, but then as their performance progresses, the family join in with their own rhythms. All of this combined energy is used to help summon the ancestor and the feel of the music increases or decreases in energy based on the musical performance that occurs. [3]

More common than any other purpose, Sub-Saharan music was to tell a story, whether that be one of sadness or joy. Since most of these songs are often performed as a group, the story telling becomes more expressive through the continuous exchange of emotion found in the voice. In the piece Ompeh [1], it is telling a story of this communion, which is seen in the first verse:

Soloist 

A woyaa woyaa                                                We go, we go,

E wo asi wo agwa e                                          They’ve set the chairs,

Asaase e                                                                 Earth,

Eba anadwo kakra                                            When night falls,

Wo asi wo agwa e                                             They’ve set the chairs,

Mere wuo o                                                           I’m dying.

The interesting thing in these lyrics is that the phrase at the end, “Mere wuo o”, or I’m dying, is not as morbid as it sounds. This refers to Akan poetry, which uses the expression as I’m dying of laughter.[1] After this the chorus repeats this phrase, and then follows it with an interesting continuation of the story.

Chorus (cont.)

A woyaa woyaa                                                 We go, we go,

Krohinko sane e                                                  We swing back and forth,

Kowa e                                                                    Kowa e (a name)

Owuo e, sane e, Kowa e                                  Death, problem, Kowa e,

A woyaa Tokoraba wose wo ba                 We are going, Tokoraba people say they are here,

Saman wa                                                              The land of the dead is far.

This shows the arrival of the Tokoraba people, who say they will be taken to the land of the dead. The most important thing it shows, however, is the ability of storytelling that was prominent in the folk music of the Sub-Saharan area of Africa. [1]

                                            Audio/Video of Ompeh

                                                                                                            Signing Off,

Brianna Jones