The African composer as a social critic

Abstract

Criticism is an assessment of value for the maintenance of standards. It sorts out, defines, educates, and says one's mind on what has to be the ideal. People criticize in order to restore order. Verbal and non-verbal languages are tools commonly used for criticizing wrong doings mostly in African communities.  Sometimes music is basically used as a corrective measure to restore order. The musician and composer write his/her music on general or specific purposes.  Where such organized compositions are lacking, folk songs are used spontaneously aiming at correcting certain disorders in the community. Texts of songs are  used proverbially to correct, educate, and inform the public on what has happened. This paper seeks to examine the extent to which the African composer uses his music for social criticism.