Creative thinking in Africa: tensions through change

Abstract

Research on creativity is a relatively recent phenomenon in Africa. Following the many changes that have impacted upon Africa in the past century, tensions have emerged between traditional and contemporary interpretations of creativity. This article will reflect on some common indigenous views of creativity, particularly in music and dance in sub-Saharan Africa. The traditional authoritarian style of schooling, brought to Africa by various colonial administrations, caused distortion in predominant values in African cultures. Authoritarian teaching did not encourage creativity, questioning or deviation from the norm, and has had a devastating impact on intellectual, artistic and practical creativity across the continent. Currently, sites of contestation lie in the demands of ‘new’ education. This article explores ways in which creative music and dance navigate the currents that surround the encounters between indigenous traditions and the contrasts of post-colonial innovation. The uncertainties engendered by such encounters are factors that currently limit maximum creative development on the continent.

Journal of the Musical Arts in Africa, Volume 9 2012, 23–38