These objects tell the story of a whole people, and remind us that the music we dance, groove, and sing along to has been immeasurably touched by the history of African Americans and …

Many of the instruments historically used in African American music, including the banjo and the drum, have antecedents in African musical instruments, and many features common to African …

The Timeline of African American Music by Portia K. Maultsby, Ph.D. presents the remarkable diversity of African American music, revealing the unique characteristics of each genre and …

Feb 14, 2022 · For most Americans today, the sound of the banjo conjures up images of white rural life in Appalachia, or the sound of the Beverly Hillbillies. But for most of its history, the …

Dec 15, 2024 · African American Instruments tell a powerful story of resilience, creativity, and cultural fusion. From the banjo’s African roots to the soulful sounds of the saxophone, these …

Sep 16, 2024 · African Americans modified existing instruments and used non-musical objects as musical instruments. During slavery, they had to rely on their own resources, often creating …

Dec 6, 2018 · Slavers manipulated the culturally vital African Drum to subjugate black slaves through dance. The power of an instrument like the Akan Drum to communicate and unify …

May 29, 2025 · Through a constant exchange of material, styles, and instrumentation, black and white Americans forged a pluralistic and distinctly American musical culture that survived …

Part two on the banjo is meant to zero in on the banjo’s transformation from the gourd-bodied, stringed instruments used by many African cultures to a uniquely American instrument, one …

Jan 31, 2025 · Enslaved Africans seeking to reconnect with their lost cultural traditions brought African concepts to instruments in the American musical mainstream, creating popular new …