The African Music Society

Abstract

The African Music Society has now been in existence for over nine years. It was founded with the primary objects of encouraging research both in African music and its modern use in the rapidly changing social life throughout this continent. Starting from very modest beginnings, the Society has already built up a following and a reputation which has enabled it to launch a project of considerable significance for the future in the International Library of African Music. Africa--south of the Sahara--is controlled by seven colonial and four independent governments, and because of immense physical barriers there are still inadequate communications between the territories. It was realised from the start that with a continent so large and diverse, it would take from five to ten years of hard spade work before the Society could show tangible results. Not only did the Society suffer from the common disadvantage of great distances, but its membership has been drawn almost exclusively from persons of foreign origin, the indigenous African being slow to appreciate either the merit or the social value of his own art forms. This state of affairs will undoubtedly continue for some time to come until the initiative for the collection, preservation and proper application of African music is taken over by Africans themselves. It