dc.contributor.advisor Huyssen, Hans
dc.contributor.author Nthala, Grant Macloly Moloko
dc.description.abstract English: Traditionally appropriate Chewa dance performances require specialized performers: singers, hand-clappers, organizers, dancers and drummers. As performers of Chewa dances grow into the necessity of surviving rival challenges and presumably malicious mysterious attacks Chewa music and dance is strongly associated with ritual, mystery, and enigmatic expression. While various dances often share common features – for example, songs are sometimes transferred from one dance to another with only slight changes in tempo; dance movements may be similar in a related family of dances; and the basic Chewa hand-clapping pattern is a general characteristic – it is the accompanying drumming rhythms that determine each dance‟s unique identity. Since the drumming is thus the key distinguishing factor it is regarded as the essence of the dance in Chewa communities. It helps articulate the purpose for which dance music is made; it contributes to the expression of cultural values through its performance; and it contains intrinsic dogmatic information on Chewa social structures, time and again bringing them home to both the performers and the audience. The drum mobilizes the people to a dancing event, unites the communities through the place that it takes, and symbolically represents the people‟s sovereignty. The drum is the centre of every performance and it is jealously preserved to remain such. Mystic forces and beliefs are involved in its construction, preservation and performance. According to the indigenous Chewa people this ensures success and protection of both the drumming or the drum and the dancers. Adopting the approach of musicology and ethnomusicology, this dissertation discusses the role played by indigenous music in Chewa societies with focus on drumming as an important element in the making of such music. The discussion describes the process of drum making and its application to the main Chewa dances. From personal background, experience, and a close compassionate vantage point I attempt to describe in detail and contextually the intricacies of three important Chewa dance forms – Gulewamkulu, Chimtali and Mganda – as media for the drumming expression. The study furthermore narrates the history of the Chewa ethnic group as well as its social structure, and how the drumming art is transferred both within and outside the indigenous Chewa communities. The study attempts to open up a previously rather obscure field of research and inspire and facilitate further investigation into the material. It relies on published and unpublished books and theses, field research aimed at obtaining information not covered in the publications, audio-visual recordings, and discussions with other researchers who have interest in Chewa culture and music. en_ZA
dc.description.abstract Afrikaans: Tradisioneel korrekte dansuitvoerings in die Chewa kultuur veronderstel deelname van „n aantal gespesialiseerde uitvoerders, naamlik dansers, tromspelers, sangers, en organiseerders, asook deelnemers wat ritmies hande klap. Chewa musici en dansers glo dat hulle blootgestel is aan mededingende uitdagings en selfs aan misterieuse kwaadwillige aanvalle. Gevolglik speel geheime rituele en kriptiese uitdrukking „n groot rol in beide Chewa musiek en dans. Terwyl algemene eienskappe in baie van die danse voorkom – spesifieke liedere word soms slegs met klein tempoveranderings van een dans na „n ander oorgedra; ooreenkomste bestaan tussen verwante danspassies; handklap-ritmes volg gebruiklike patrone, ensovoorts – word spesifieke danse telkens deur „n unieke tromritme begelei, en word hierdie aspek van „n dansuitvoering as die mees bepalende faktor beskou. Die styl van tromspel (drumming) word in Chewa kringe gevolglik as die essensie van Chewa dans beskou. Tromspel artikuleer die doelstellings van die spesifieke danse, en dra daartoe by om kulturele waardes tydens uitvoering tot uitdrukking te bring; ook bevat dit intrinsieke dogmatiese inligting oor sosiale strukture van die tradisionele Chewa gemeenskap wat gedurende die danse telkens opnuut by dansers sowel as gehore tuisgebring word. Die tromspel mobiliseer die gemeenskap om aan die dans deel te neem, en simboliseer hierdeur die gemeenskap se outonomiteit. Omdat tromme „n sentrale rol by alle dans uitvoerings speel, word daar streng oor die instrumente gewaak. By die konstruksie en instandhouding van die instrumente, asook by hul gebruik in uitvoerings, speel die geloof aan mistieke kragte „n rol. Volgens die inheemse Chewa bevolking word die sukses van uitvoerings hierdeur verseker, en word nie slegs die instrumente nie, maar ook die uitvoering en uitvoerders hierdeur beskerm. Hierdie dissertasie bespreek die rol van inheemse musiek in Chewa gemenskappe vanuit „n musikologiese en musiketnologiese standpunt waarby die fokus veral op tromspel as belangrike element van musiekmaak val. Die studie beskryf vervaardigingsprosesse van tromme en die toepassing daarvan op die belangrikste Chewa danse. Die navorser se Chewa agtergrond en hegte persoonlike verbintenis met die tradisies wat hier bespreek word, plaas hom in die posisie om die onderwerp deernisvol waar te neem en te beskryf, en die intrikate 207 aard van drie belangrike Chewa dansvorme – Gulewamkulu, Chimtali and Mganda – gedetailleerd en kontekstueel as media vir tromuitdrukking te belig. Verderverhaal die studie kortliks die geskiedenis van die Chewagemeenskap as etniese groep, asook die sosiale struktuur daarvan, en gaan dit in op om dan op wyses waarop die kuns van tradisionele tromspel binne en buite inheemse Chewa gemeenskappe oorgedra word. Die ondersoek poog om „n voorheen ontoeganklike navorsingsveld te ontsluit en sodoende verdere studies te inspireer en te fasiliteer. Dit berus op gepubliseerde en ongepubliseerde boeke en dissertasies, veldwerk wat leemtes in die beskikbare gepubliseerde materiaal moes opvul, oudio-visuele opnames, en gesprekke met ander navorsers wat belang het by Chewa kultuur en musiek. af
dc.subject Malawian traditional music en_ZA
dc.subject African aesthetics en_ZA
dc.subject Traditional African dance en_ZA
dc.subject African drumming en_ZA
dc.subject Chimtali en_ZA
dc.subject Performance contexts en_ZA
dc.subject Chewa (African people) -- Malawi -- Music en_ZA
dc.subject Dance music -- Malawi en_ZA
dc.subject Folk music -- Malawi en_ZA
dc.subject Drummers (Musicians) -- Malawi en_ZA
dc.subject Dissertation (M. Mus. (Music))--University of the Free State, 2009 en_ZA
dc.title The Chewa art of drumming and its influence on modern Malawian music en_ZA