Traditional Senegalese Music: Its Significance and the Need to Preserve It

Abstract

This qualitative study applied ethnographic and grounded theory methods to answer the central research question: How do participants understand and explain the significance of music within various sociocultural contexts in Senegal? The 25 participants were from various ethnic groups located throughout the country. Sixteen participants were musicians, four were traditional griots, three were elders from a local rural village, one was an artisan, and one was a marabout of an urban Qur’anic school. The author conducted one-on-one interviews with each participant that lasted from 45 to 60 minutes. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, translated, and analysed using grounded theory methods. The central finding that emerged from this study was that preserving traditional music, which can be identified and described by its rhythms, instrumentation, and messages is necessary for musicians to make modern music (i.e., music incorporating modern instruments and messages). Furthermore, combining elements of both traditional and modern music into a style known as tradi-modern music has led to the creation of mbalax rhythms that are unique to Senegalese music, thus contributing to the preservation of traditional music. As a result, musicians can play for and reach a much broader audience consisting of both younger and older generations across sociocultural contexts. This article presents findings that explain why traditional music is significant and why it must be preserved.

Keywords:

• music
• Senegal
• grounded theory
• preserve
• traditional
• griot
• Islam
• Sufism