Notes from the field: Making applied ethnomusicology count for students and communities in Keiskammahoek, South Africa

Abstract

This report describes a project in which applied ethnomusicology was combined with development studies. Ethnomusicology became ‘applied’ as it addressed various concerns which were pedagogical, musicological, and socially relevant. Ethnomusicology entered the realm of development studies as its research partner was a non-profit organisation with clear developmental goals related to early childhood development (ECD) and food security, among others. The integration of ethnomusicology with development studies was tested in a music heritage research project, in which students and staff of Rhodes University in Makhanda (Grahamstown), and staff of the Ntinga Development Centre (NDC) in Keiskammahoek, pooled their resources to conduct research on the heritage of this community. The question was, how could this collaboration unfold ethically, taking into account the connotations of the prefix, ‘ethno-’ in ethnomusicology and the reputation of ‘development studies’ in the ‘developing world’? The question is relatable to my argument, namely, that the very interdisciplinary nature of ethnomusicology provides it with the potential for reaching out, beyond the classroom, while rendering ethnomusicology a compelling opportunity for addressing the mandate for transformation within the institution. The case-study described in this paper provides an example of how ethnomusicology can be applied in a broader social context where music is but one of many concerns.