African Map, Courtesy of the CIA
Western African Musical Origins
The musical roots of the blues began in
of CIA. Despite the lack of
written sources concerning the African musical tradition, there
is much that is known about West African music during the era
of the slave trade (1600-1860). This is due to the strong oral
tradition of West African peoples, as well as a variety of rich
traveler accounts, many of which contain detailed descriptions
of music and instruments. Music played an extremely important
role in many aspects of African society.
As early as 1600, travelers wrote commentary about Africa and
its inhabitants. The first English-language account comes from
Richard Jobson, an Englishman sent to explore the Gambia river
area in 1620. In his book The Golden Trade or a Discovery of the
River Gambra and the Golden Trade of the Aethiopians, he noted:
"There is without doubt, no people on the earth more naturally
affected to the sound of musicke than these people; which the
principall persons do hold as an ornament of their state, so as
when we come to see them their musicke will seldom be wanting."
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