Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9muWywQLYw
Instrumentation: vocal chant, drums, shakers, horn (played by leader)
As I watched this video, I was amazed to see the exactness of the ritual being performed. They have been doing this for thousands of years, with the tradition being passed down from generation to generation. This shows the deep-rooted faith that the Venda people have. As their leader states, the most important part of their rituals is the belief of the people, and you can really see their spirituality throughout the video.
In one way however, I am not sure if one could consider this perfectly "authentic" in every way. As our readings state, in order for a piece to be completely accurate, it has to be performed in the correct context, contain the correct physical properties and characteristics, and be taught in the historically correct method. The people wear their traditional clothing over modern day clothing. Also, they allowed their ritual to be filmed, with outsiders present. While these two factors may not have been accepted in the past, and even though it appears contextually and historically accurate, I am not sure whether or not the performance in this video is completely "authentic" according to our readings. This brings up the issue that we have previously discussed in class, whether or not something can really be completely "authentic" or not.
This is a very interesting video showcasing so many different aspects of African life. I have always thought of African musical culture through drums and dancing and have always known there is a story/reason behind every dance, but the reason is not always readily available. This is a great video because it walks you through exactly what is going on and why everything is being done. This video is a great way to learn more about African dance, music, and belief systems that are highlighted through their music. It is very interesting that in this culture, the little girl has so much responsibility and usually in our culture we shelter our children until adulthood or close to adulthood from responsibilities as heavy as this video shows.
ReplyDeleteWhat a captivating video. This appears to be from a series - did you look into the other components?
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