Rhythms of the Motherland: Exploring African Perspectives in Music and Sonic Cultures

Abstract

This paper explores African perspectives in music and sonic cultures, emphasizing the social, cultural, and political roles of sound across the continent. Integrating ethnomusicology, sound studies, and postcolonial theory, the study examines indigenous musical practices, urban soundscapes, and contemporary genres such as Afrobeats, etc. The paper demonstrates how music functions as a medium of identity, memory, and resilience, while challenging Eurocentric frameworks in musicology and pedagogy. Five specific purposes of study and five research questions guided the study. The study was carried out in the Nsukka Education Zone of Enugu State, Nigeria. The study adopted a qualitative research design. The sample size of the study was 50 participants. The researcher employed thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns, themes, and insights. It was discovered that African musical practices, ranging from drumming, call-andresponse singing, and folk melodies to contemporary genres like Afrobeats and Amapiano, serve as central vehicles for cultural identity and social cohesion. It was recommended that African musical and sonic traditions should be systematically incorporated into school curricula at all levels. This will promote cultural literacy, identity formation, and appreciation of indigenous knowledge systems