The Diversity of African Musics

Abstract

Multicultural curricula that explore African musics often focus on the commonalities among its musical traditions. Exploring the diversity of individual African musical traditions provides a pathway to the multiplicity of sounds, cultures, beliefs, and uses inherent within African and all multicultural musics. Deeper insights into the diversity of African musics are explored through the rich tapestry of South African musics. South African Xhosa and Zulu traditions are discussed and explored using three rhythm lesson plans that include songs, techniques, and movements adaptable for any grade level and ideal for teachers who wish to expand their idea of diverse African musics. A culturally-expanded curriculum, that includes the diversity of sounds within various cultures, provides opportunities for students to experience some of the rich variety inherent in African musics.