Some of the great literary works such as the Bible and Indian epics, among others, provide society with the guiding principles of life. Works by poets have always entertained their readers and will continue to do so. The Lord of the Rings, The Godfather, A Tale of Two Cities, Harry Potter, and James Bond have been among the best-selling books of all time for many generations. While some literary and poetic works carry life lessons, many others make us think. Some works are known for the sheer entertainment they provide, while others intrigue. Many works of literature establish a strong connection with their audience through the stories they tell or the message they convey. Readers tend to associate themselves with the emotions described in these works and participate emotionally. Literature therefore has a profound impact on the minds of readers and, in turn, on their lives! A Melody Called Africa reminds the human society that strong and integrated works of literature and art can improve our lives and answer the big weary questions of the mankind.

We have experienced such enormous developments in different fields of science and technology, sending Space Shuttles to outer space and discovering the microscopic germs hidden in the textures of the elements; A Melody Called Peace is here to make such progresses in the very core of our hearts and to remind us once more that literature and art can bridge the souls of strangers and bless them with the sweet taste of peace and love. This book is the result of a massive international collaboration between poets, authors and artists from different parts of the world who answered the invitation call of the messengers of peace and civilization, we, the authors and participants, believe that peace is the result of the reconciliation of the opposites and poetry - in its simple but rich form - and has the ability to convey the genuine and common concerns of all humankind living in different parts of the world while they hold different beliefs. A Melody Called Peace, like a big and glamorous lantern, shines the light once more on the shadows which have tarnished the beloved peace; the melody of dozens of poets and authors will fondle the hearts of the residents of the world, reminding them of this famous phrase: Nil Desperandum! And finally, Gloria in altissimis Deo et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis!

An introduction to African music discussing melody, rhythm and form, musical instruments, and music in traditional and contemporary African life. Includes a bibliography and discography.

Focus: Music of South Africa provides an in-depth look at the full spectrum of South African music, a musical culture that epitomizes the enormous ethnic, religious, linguistic, class, and gender diversity of the nation itself. Drawing on extensive field and archival research, as well as her own personal experiences, noted ethnomusicologist and South African native Carol A. Muller looks at how South Africans have used music to express a sense of place in South Africa, on the African continent, and around the world. Part One, Creating Connections, provides introductory materials for the study of South African Music. Part Two, Musical Migrations, moves to a more focused overview of significant musical styles in twentieth-century South Africa -- particularly those known through world circuits. Part Three, Focusing In, takes the reader into the heart of two musical cultures with case studies on South African jazz and the music of the Zulu-language followers of Isaiah Shembe. The accompanying downloadable resources offer vivid examples of traditional, popular, and classical South African musical styles.

For several centuries Cape Town has accommodated a great variety of musical genres which have usually been associated with specific population groups living in and around the city. Musical styles and genres produced in Cape Town have therefore been assigned an ìidentityî which is first and foremost social. This volume tries to question the relationship established between musical styles and genres, and social ñ in this case pseudo-racial ñ identities. In Sounding the Cape, Denis-Constant Martin recomposes and examines through the theoretical prism of creolisation the history of music in Cape Town, deploying analytical tools borrowed from the most recent studies of identity configurations. He demonstrates that musical creation in the Mother City, and in South Africa, has always been nurtured by contacts, exchanges and innovations whatever the efforts made by racist powers to separate and divide people according to their origin. Musicians interviewed at the dawn of the 21st century confirm that mixture and blending characterise all Cape Townís musics. They also emphasise the importance of a rhythmic pattern particular to Cape Town, the ghoema beat, whose origins are obviously mixed. The study of music demonstrates that the history of Cape Town, and of South Africa as a whole, undeniably fostered creole societies. Yet, twenty years after the collapse of apartheid, these societies are still divided along lines that combine economic factors and ìracialî categorisations. Martin concludes that, were music given a greater importance in educational and cultural policies, it could contribute to fighting these divisions and promote the notion of a nation that, in spite of the violence of racism and apartheid, has managed to invent a unique common culture.

The critical importance of past for the present--of music histories in local and global forms--asserts itself. The history of world music, as each chapter makes clear, is one of critical moments and paradigm shifts.