When Western missionaries arrived in Africa in the 19th century, they disallowed the use of native musical instruments in church, which they associated with demonic worship. But now, the instruments ...

For the people who say they have no rhythm, BaBa Eli Hoenai of Chicago would tell them that they’re missing a key organ–their heart. In celebration of Black History Month, he presented two workshops ...

The soul-shattering abuses suffered by enslaved Africans, who were forcibly stripped of their languages, religions and other key aspects of their culture, were fortunately no match for their ...

The aesthetic dimensions of African musical instruments are not only visual, but aural and symbolic as well. As cultural objects, they can represent and reinforce political authority, social ...

Salif Keita is known today as the "golden voice" of Africa, but in his youth he was an outcast, unaccepted by his community because he was born with albinism. Turning to music as an outlet, Keita rose ...

The Black Banjo Reclamation Project aims to put banjos into the hands of everyday people. Paul Ruta Of all the melodic musical instruments in the world, perhaps none is more connected to the land it ...

During the course of the past 50 years, guitar music from Africa has gifted the world a vast array of incredible records, musicians, songs and musical styles. TG gives you a definitive guide. Africa ...

The Bandarimba Arts founder is among the few local manufacturers of traditional music instruments such as mbira (thump piano), , hosho (rattles) and ngoma (traditional drums). He developed passion for ...

Pop superstar Beyoncé released "Texas Hold 'Em" a few weeks ago and it features an instrument that she had never emphasized before. This hit song, on her new (and hugely popular) Cowboy Carter album, ...

It’s been over a decade since Milwaukeeans gathered en masse to celebrate African culture and heritage. But, thanks to the work of three local women, the African Cultural Festival is slated to take ...