Music of Liberia: Difference between revisions
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{{Culture of Liberia}} |
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==Gbema music or traditional music== |
==Gbema music or traditional music== |
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The indigenous ethnic groups of [[Liberia]] can be linguistically divided into three groups: those in the west who speak the isolate [[Gola language]] and the [[Mel languages]] (particularly [[Kissi people|Kissi]]) and those in the east who speak [[Kru languages]] (particularly [[Bassa people (Liberia)|Bassa]]). To these must be added the [[Mande people]] (the [[Kpelle people|Kpelle]] are Liberia's largest ethnic group) in the north as well as Liberian repatriates (Americo-Liberians, Congo, Caribbean). |
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Liberian music makes particular use of vocal harmony, repetition and [[call and response (music)|call-and-response]] song structure as well as such typical West African elements as [[ululation]] and the [[polyrhythm]] typical of [[rhythm in Sub-Saharan Africa]]. Christian music was introduced to Liberia by American missionaries and Christian songs are now sung in a style that mixes American harmonies with West African language, rhythm and the call-and-response format. |
Liberian music makes particular use of vocal harmony, repetition and [[call and response (music)|call-and-response]] song structure as well as such typical West African elements as [[ululation]] and the [[polyrhythm]] typical of [[rhythm in Sub-Saharan Africa]]. Christian music was introduced to Liberia by American missionaries and Christian songs are now sung in a style that mixes American harmonies with West African language, rhythm and the call-and-response format. |
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Traditional music is performed at weddings, [[naming ceremony|naming ceremonies]], royal events and other special occasions, as well as ordinary [[children's song]]s, [[work song]]s and [[lullabies]]. |
Traditional music is performed at weddings, [[naming ceremony|naming ceremonies]], royal events and other special occasions, as well as ordinary [[children's song]]s, [[work song]]s and [[lullabies]]. |
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==Popular music== |
==Popular music== |
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[[Highlife]] music |
[[Highlife]], and [[Hiplife]] music are very popular in Liberia, as elsewhere in West Africa. Both Highlife and Hiplife music evolved out of Africa's original sound called Palmwine Music or Gbema music genre. All African music legends since 1920s were greatly inspired by the [[Palmwine music]] which originated out of Liberia in 1918-1920 by indigenous kru tribe of the Grain Coast of Africa. Late in the 1950s, a combination of North American, West African and Latin American styles, emerged in [[Ghana]], [[Sierra Leone]] and [[Liberia]], especially among the Liberian [[Kru people]], who were sailors that learned to played Funk, Jazz, and Fuji from Americo Liberians who settled on the African continent from Louisiana, USA during the abolition of Slavery between 1822-1846. The Kru people played [[Classical guitar|Spanish guitar]], [[banjo]], [[pennywhistle]], [[harmonica]], [[accordion]], [[mandolin]] and [[concertina]] and their sounds inspired the rest of African music since then. The [[Palm wine music]] also known as Gbema music genre also inspired the evolution of HipCo music in Liberia. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.liberianforum.com/arts.htm|title=LiberianForum.Com ~ Liberian Information Online|website=www.liberianforum.com|access-date=2017-01-24}}</ref> |
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Past and present musicians include |
Past and present musicians include [[Fatu Gayflor]] and [[Miatta Fahnbulleh (singer)|Miatta Fahnbulleh]]. |
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The country's most renowned radio station is ELBC, or the [[Liberian Broadcasting System]]. Rap and pop music are also performed in indigenous languages across the country. |
The country's most renowned radio station is ELBC, or the [[Liberian Broadcasting System]]. Rap and pop music are also performed in indigenous languages across the country. |
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==Hipco== |
==Hipco== |
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{{See also|Hipco (genre)}} |
{{See also|Hipco (genre)}} |
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Liberia has a |
Liberia has a unique Liberian rap and singing genre called [[Hipco (genre)|Hipco]], or "Co".<ref name=FootnoteB>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jan/09/liberia-music-pot-boiling |title=Liberian street hit stirs the political pot |last=Rahimian |first=Nora |date=January 9, 2013 |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=March 18, 2019}}</ref> The "co" in the genre is short for the Liberian dialect [[Kolokwa]].<ref name=FootnoteC>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/lifestyle/magazine/trump-insulted-these-countries-travel-writer-celebrates-them/ |title=Last year Trump called these countries a profane name. We sent a travel writer to celebrate them. |last=Donahue |first=Bill |date=March 12, 2019 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=March 18, 2019}}</ref> Hipco is usually performed in Liberian English or the local vernacular. Kolokwa rap in Gbema music evolved in the 1980s but was not branded as HipCo music genre until 2002-2003 when [[HipCo]] was founded or established by the Liberian Legendary Detrench, the late DJ SummerTime and MC Switch. HipCo has always had a social and political bent. In the 1990s it continued to develop through the [[Liberian Civil War (disambiguation)|civil wars]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Christopher Giamo|publisher=Together Liberia|url= http://togetherliberia.org/takun-j-hip-co-liberia/|title=Takun J – Hip-Co in Liberia |date=24 June 2011|access-date = 2012-06-06 }}</ref><ref>Ashoka, [https://www.vice.com/en_se/article/hipco-liberia "'Hipco' Is the Soundtrack of Monrovia's Post-War Youth"], ''Vice'', 2 April 2014.</ref> Hipco music was becoming popular in 2004 and still is the most popular music genre of Liberia, "serving as the medium through which rappers and singers speak against societal ills, including injustice and corruption and also with an infusion of enticing lyrics for pleasure."<ref name=FootnoteE>{{cite web |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201701190637.html |title=Liberia: Documenting Hipco |last=Dopoe Jr. |first=Robin |date=January 19, 2017 |website=www.allafrica.com |publisher=All Africa |access-date=March 18, 2019}}</ref> [[UNICEF]] has worked with Hipco artists to release Hipco songs on [[Ebola]] prevention, with several of the songs becoming popular on radio in the country in 2014.<ref name=FootnoteA>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/21/world/ebola-entertainment-education/index.html |title=Using music to fight Ebola in Liberia |last=Cullinane |first=Susannah |date=October 21, 2014 |website=www.cnn.com |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=March 18, 2019}}</ref> Among high-profile Hipco artists are [[Takun J]], [[DenG]], and [[MC Caro]].<ref name=FootnoteF>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/04/style/monrovia-hipco-clubs.html |title=The Ease of Monrovia's 'Hipco' Clubs |date=November 4, 2017 |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=March 18, 2019}}</ref><ref name=FootnoteG>{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/wdaemm/hipco-liberia |title='Hipco' Is the Soundtrack of Monrovia's Post-War Youth |date=March 30, 2014 |website=www.vice.com |publisher=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]] |access-date=March 18, 2019}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[Liberian Entertainment Awards]] |
* [[Liberian Entertainment Awards]] |
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* [[Culture of Liberia]] |
* [[Culture of Liberia]] |
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* [[List of Liberian musicians]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Music Of Liberia}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Music Of Liberia}} |
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[[Category:Music of Liberia| ]] |
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Latest revision as of 12:24, 22 April 2024
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The music of Liberia[1] uses many tribal beats and often one of the native dialects, or vernacular. Liberian music includes traditional Gbema music,[2] as well as the popular genre Hipco.[3]
Gbema music or traditional music
[edit]Liberian music makes particular use of vocal harmony, repetition and call-and-response song structure as well as such typical West African elements as ululation and the polyrhythm typical of rhythm in Sub-Saharan Africa. Christian music was introduced to Liberia by American missionaries and Christian songs are now sung in a style that mixes American harmonies with West African language, rhythm and the call-and-response format. Traditional music is performed at weddings, naming ceremonies, royal events and other special occasions, as well as ordinary children's songs, work songs and lullabies.
Popular music
[edit]Highlife, and Hiplife music are very popular in Liberia, as elsewhere in West Africa. Both Highlife and Hiplife music evolved out of Africa's original sound called Palmwine Music or Gbema music genre. All African music legends since 1920s were greatly inspired by the Palmwine music which originated out of Liberia in 1918-1920 by indigenous kru tribe of the Grain Coast of Africa. Late in the 1950s, a combination of North American, West African and Latin American styles, emerged in Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia, especially among the Liberian Kru people, who were sailors that learned to played Funk, Jazz, and Fuji from Americo Liberians who settled on the African continent from Louisiana, USA during the abolition of Slavery between 1822-1846. The Kru people played Spanish guitar, banjo, pennywhistle, harmonica, accordion, mandolin and concertina and their sounds inspired the rest of African music since then. The Palm wine music also known as Gbema music genre also inspired the evolution of HipCo music in Liberia. [4]
Past and present musicians include Fatu Gayflor and Miatta Fahnbulleh.
The country's most renowned radio station is ELBC, or the Liberian Broadcasting System. Rap and pop music are also performed in indigenous languages across the country.
In 1963, President Tubman set up the new Cape-Palmas Military Band (CPMB). Israeli bandmaster Aharon Shefi formed and conducted a 56-piece concert and marching band that performed Liberian, American and universal folk and church music. The CPMB has performed on January 1, 1964, at President Tubman's inauguration in Monrovia. Among the pieces played were Highlife, original marches by the late Liberian composer Victor Bowya, the National Anthem and "The Lone Star Forever". The CPMB had also performed in churches, schools, holidays and military parades and official events.
Hipco
[edit]Liberia has a unique Liberian rap and singing genre called Hipco, or "Co".[5] The "co" in the genre is short for the Liberian dialect Kolokwa.[6] Hipco is usually performed in Liberian English or the local vernacular. Kolokwa rap in Gbema music evolved in the 1980s but was not branded as HipCo music genre until 2002-2003 when HipCo was founded or established by the Liberian Legendary Detrench, the late DJ SummerTime and MC Switch. HipCo has always had a social and political bent. In the 1990s it continued to develop through the civil wars.[7][8] Hipco music was becoming popular in 2004 and still is the most popular music genre of Liberia, "serving as the medium through which rappers and singers speak against societal ills, including injustice and corruption and also with an infusion of enticing lyrics for pleasure."[9] UNICEF has worked with Hipco artists to release Hipco songs on Ebola prevention, with several of the songs becoming popular on radio in the country in 2014.[10] Among high-profile Hipco artists are Takun J, DenG, and MC Caro.[11][12]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Liberia Music Download Homepage - Music Liberia". Music Liberia. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
- ^ "Traditional/Gbema Archives - Music Liberia". Music Liberia. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
- ^ "Hipco Archives - Music Liberia". Music Liberia. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
- ^ "LiberianForum.Com ~ Liberian Information Online". www.liberianforum.com. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
- ^ Rahimian, Nora (January 9, 2013). "Liberian street hit stirs the political pot". The Guardian. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- ^ Donahue, Bill (March 12, 2019). "Last year Trump called these countries a profane name. We sent a travel writer to celebrate them". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- ^ Christopher Giamo (24 June 2011). "Takun J – Hip-Co in Liberia". Together Liberia. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
- ^ Ashoka, "'Hipco' Is the Soundtrack of Monrovia's Post-War Youth", Vice, 2 April 2014.
- ^ Dopoe Jr., Robin (January 19, 2017). "Liberia: Documenting Hipco". www.allafrica.com. All Africa. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- ^ Cullinane, Susannah (October 21, 2014). "Using music to fight Ebola in Liberia". www.cnn.com. CNN. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- ^ "The Ease of Monrovia's 'Hipco' Clubs". The New York Times. November 4, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- ^ "'Hipco' Is the Soundtrack of Monrovia's Post-War Youth". www.vice.com. Vice. March 30, 2014. Retrieved March 18, 2019.