What is ethnomusicology? It comes from the word, ¡§ethnographic¡¨, which is the study of music within its social content and it is an account based on research. It documents traditional music and focuses on what the meaning of music is. ¡§ethnomusicological research also involves history, and for many studies history is the focus. Often ethnomusicologists study cultures other than their own, a situation that distinguishes this field from most historical musicology¡¨ (Meyers, 1992: 3). In this essay one will discuss and give a description of the most important musical, social and historical features of the following music styles in Southern Africa: Chopi Timiblia Music, Shona Mbira Music and the Venda National Dance: Tshikona.
The Timbila xylophone is the primary musical instrument of the elaborately choreographed and musically accompanied Migodo (sing. Ngodo) dance dramas of the Chopi people of Southern Mozambique (Tracey, 1970: 1). This tradition unlike most others......
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