RootsWorld Book Menu: World Music Books

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African music CDs now available at cdRoots

Recommended Video:
Wonders Of The African World With Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is a documentary by the eminent black social historian. It is an honest, sometimes controversial look at the culture, art, religion and politics of the many varied places that comprise "Africa." This 3 part set is gorgeous, enlightening and provocative.

There is also an accompanying book.

Recommended Books

Mande Music
by Eric Charry
"...a fascinating and unfolding look at one of the most important and enjoyable of the world's musical cultures." -Richard Dorsett (read the review in RootsWorld)

Rumba on the River by Gary Stewart: A History of the Popular Music of the Two Congos (April, 2000, Verso)

In Griot Time : An American Guitarist in Mali by Banning Eyre (Hardcover: Temple U. Press)
paperback

Black Music of Two Worlds by John Storm Roberts is a crucial read for anyone interested in the relationship between African and American music. It was updated in 1999.

The Latin Tinge : The Impact of Latin American Music on the United States, another John Storm Roberts work, takes a look at American music as it has been influenced by the music of the Caribbean and central America. 1998

African Ceremonies
by Carol Beckwith, Angela Fisher, Malidoma Patrice Some
A beautiful 2 volume set of articles and 850 photographs from Africa.

Africa (The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music, Vol 1) by Ruth M. Stone (Editor), James Porter (Editor)
A massive (and expensive) hard cover academic book, but if you are REALLY interested in learning it all, this is the place to start.

Griots and Griottes, an in-depth look at the oral tradition of western Africa by Thomas A. Hale.
Read the RootsWorld review.
Order from Amazon

Maasai by Tepilit Ole Saitoti with Carol Beckwith (Photographer). A beautiful book of essays and photos of the Maasai people of Kenya. Well researched and written, more than just a decoration for the coffee table!

The Da Capo Guide to Contemporary African Music by Ronnie Graham / 1988 - an excellent paperback guide to the recordings of Africa.

The World of African Music (Stern's Guide to Contemporary African Music, Vol 2) by Ronnie Graham / 1992 - an expensive hard cover second edition (but it IS worth the price for the serious recording collector) - Read a review of the book from when it was published.

Africa O-Ye! : A Celebration of African Music (A Da Capo Paperback) by Graeme Ewens, Grarme Ewens, Manu Dibango

African Music : A People's Art A marvelously written, highly opinionated book by African musican, playwright and novelist Francis Bebey

Brown Girl in the Ring
An Anthology of Song Games from the Eastern Caribbean
by Alan Lomax (Compiler), J. D. Elder, Bess Lomax Hawes
An EXCELENT book of childreen's songs, with lyrics, notation and stories.
There is a wonderful companion CD.

Afropop : An Illustrated Guide to Contemporary African Music A lighweigfht, colorful (GREAT photos) and enjoyable look at the music by radio producer Sean Barlow, and his Afro-pop team (hardcover)

And if you are going to follow the music, you might need a good map?
These two are my atlases of choice:
The Times Atlas of the World : Comprehensive Edition. Excellent, expensive and beautifully made guide. The 10th edition. The "Family" edition is a nice, if somewhat more simplified, alternative.
Rand Mc Nally New Universal World Atlas: clear, concise, well laid out, and out of print... so look in the used book store.

Also, the Bartholomew travelers maps are excellent if you want real detail on a large fold-out map.
Africa
Europe: western
Europe: central (out of print)

National Geographic Atlas of the World is one of the definitive (and pricey) guides to the land masses, boundaries and social constructions of the geo-political and physical world. A must-have for map junkies.

A Diversion:
The Mapmakers by New York Times science writer John Noble Wilford explores the history of map making and it's social and political effects on human history. Interesting and in depth, excellent writing and unusual perspectives.

Other resources on African and black music in Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas
Many of these are out of print, but we offer them to those who like to root through used book stores!

African Music : A Briefly Annotated Bibliography

African Music and Oral Data : A Catalog of Field Recordings, 1902-1975
Ruth M. Stone

African Sanctus : a story of travel and music
David Fanshawe

African Banjo Echoes in Appalachia : A Study of Folk Traditions (American Folklore Society)
Cecelia Conway

African Rhythm and African Sensibility
John Chernoff

African Roots (Traditional Black Music)
Jerry Silverman

African Stars : Studies in Black South African Performance (Chicago Studies in Ethnomusicology Series)
Veit Erlmann (hardcover)

African Stars : Studies in Black South African Performance (Chicago Studies in Ethnomusicology)
Veit Erlmann

Black Chant : Languages of African-American Postmodernism (Cambridge Studies in American Literature and Culture, 105)
Aldon Lynn Nielsen

Black Noise : Rap Music and Black Culture in Contemporary America (Music/Culture)
Tricia Rose

Blues People : Negro Music in White America
Imamu Amiri Baraka, et al

Breakout : Profiles in African Rhythm
Gary Stewart