African Jazz/Blues Music

Music is something that people all around the world use to cope with problems, celebrate successes, morn deaths, and even practice religion. Music is not something only found here in the United States either, it’s global. I took an evening to sit down on my computer and listen to some native music found from the southern part of Africa. The songs that I listened to were from a group of African singers known as the Four Brothers. There music is of the pop jazz/blues genre and is of up tempo melodies. Some basic research informed me that the music this group sings says a lot about the culture and way of life in Africa.

One song in particular caught my attention, “Makorokoto”. It turns out, as I assumed, each of this band’s songs have a passionate meaning behind each of them. “Makorokoto,” is a song of Zimbabwean revolution. The Four Brothers band was formed during a time when current Zimbabwe was known as Rhodesia. Therefor, the members where part of this revolution. Before researching, I took the time to listen to the melody, beat and lyrics of this song. What was very clear to me from the beginning was, “Makorokoto” was a happy song. It makes since after researching as to why. In Shona, the bands native language, makorokoto means celebration.

Before listening to this native African music genre I didn’t know what to expect. It was hard for me to picture anything but, native, African tribesmen dancing around a fire singing songs passed down from generation to generation. I was very mistaken in this assumption. Just as music here in the United States represents a specific life event, so does this African jazz. Even though you cannot understand the words meaning by hearing it, just by listening a person can understand the bigger picture that is being painted. The beat, the ups and downs in the singer’s voices, all lead to the deeper understanding of what is being addressed. I believe that if a person wishes to get a better understanding of African culture, it is crucial that they take a few minutes to indulge in some of the world’s best and intriguing jazz/blues music.

Tate DeMeulenaere