Many dynamics and traditions are linked with sabar drumming, meaning there is more than enough research to be done on the performance genre. Patricia Tang, author of Masters of the Sabar, spent numerous years researching Wolof Griot percussionists in Senegal. Proposing that I travel to Senegal myself, I will be doing preliminary research for two months with a budget of $10,000. Specifically, I will be researching the answer to this question: How complex is the meaning of family to Wolof géwël? I propose that the family dynamic is essential to how a sabar player learns, creates, and passes down knowledge. For her research, Tang spent time closely studying and interviewing the lives of the Ndiaye family, the Sing-Sing family, and the Mbaye family
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However, the true learning experience would be in the house itself in Senegal. Living in a kër, or household, it would be evident that family has no limits because all relatives and loved ones are welcome. Additionally, even though “families tend to be patrilogical,” the role of genders in a family is not a problem in equality because “both lineages are considered important” (Tang 58). Culturally, it is said that children inherit different qualities from their parents. The mother passes down blood, flesh, character, and intelligence, which many say is more important than what the father passes down, which are bones, nerves and courage. The people of Senegal will argue that the mother’s inheritance is more significant in personality, however, much of the sabar drumming qualities are passed down from the father. Gender equality is not much of an obstacle when it comes to families of sabar drumming, and neither are géwël from different blood …show more content…
As an educator, it is crucial that every aspect of the whole experience is analyzed and documented so that there is someone else who will learn something out of the experience. Specifically in ethnomusicology, the more learned about music around the world, the more learned about the culture and the more desire it gives to pursue finding the meanings and traditions that music holds. When it comes to family, anyone can relate or argue. Spreading knowledge of family and sabar drumming would lead to conversations that could spark an interest in someone and all of a sudden they are dedicating their whole lives to learning about sabar drumming or any ethnomusicology area. Just listening to the music may not catch someone’s direct attention because of the difficulty of bringing personal experiences to give the music meaning, but talking about it, studying it, and making that trip to another country for fieldwork is what helps finding a way to relate to music of another
However, the true learning experience would be in the house itself in Senegal. Living in a kër, or household, it would be evident that family has no limits because all relatives and loved ones are welcome. Additionally, even though “families tend to be patrilogical,” the role of genders in a family is not a problem in equality because “both lineages are considered important” (Tang 58). Culturally, it is said that children inherit different qualities from their parents. The mother passes down blood, flesh, character, and intelligence, which many say is more important than what the father passes down, which are bones, nerves and courage. The people of Senegal will argue that the mother’s inheritance is more significant in personality, however, much of the sabar drumming qualities are passed down from the father. Gender equality is not much of an obstacle when it comes to families of sabar drumming, and neither are géwël from different blood …show more content…
As an educator, it is crucial that every aspect of the whole experience is analyzed and documented so that there is someone else who will learn something out of the experience. Specifically in ethnomusicology, the more learned about music around the world, the more learned about the culture and the more desire it gives to pursue finding the meanings and traditions that music holds. When it comes to family, anyone can relate or argue. Spreading knowledge of family and sabar drumming would lead to conversations that could spark an interest in someone and all of a sudden they are dedicating their whole lives to learning about sabar drumming or any ethnomusicology area. Just listening to the music may not catch someone’s direct attention because of the difficulty of bringing personal experiences to give the music meaning, but talking about it, studying it, and making that trip to another country for fieldwork is what helps finding a way to relate to music of another