Strategizing Globalization for the Advancement of African Music Identity

Abstract

Globalization is the integration of the activities of various people irrespective of distance and national boundaries. Through new information communication, transportation and technological applications, globalization creates a pool of ideas and opportunities that facilitate understanding, co-operation and interdependent amongst sovereign states. As a phenomenon, globalization is an imposing development that can hardly be resisted by any society that operates communication network. Music has conspicuously been in this phenomenon, but where a others‟ music, later subsumed and finally suppressed. However, Africa stands to boost her musical identity, receptivity (of works and musicians) and economic base there from, if decisive effort is mounted to embrace this development. This understanding requires the liberalization of the creative process, the adaptation of some sonic music universals, identification and projection of some peculiar African music idioms and the reorganization of performance practice in the light of modern scenic realities and documentary alternatives.