West African music taught by a white (British) man

[thehighsandthelows]

Traditional West African drumming taught to some children. I was surprised to see a white man show up. Maybe naively I expected someone West African. Research shows mainly white, British employees. Some African performers featured. A lot of praise for traditional African music and reference to the training they have received in West Africa. It doesn't sit right with me but can't find similar opinions voiced? No one else seemed remotely surprised?! Lots of praise for them and positivity. Bookings for celebrating black history months! With no one black in the photos!! Grateful for any views.

How would you feel if an Italian woman was teaching West African drumming classes? Would that also be unacceptable, or is this just about perceived male white privilege?

White people can also come from Africa - do we know this wasn't the case?

@silentpool

White people can also come from Africa - do we know this wasn't the case?

If op’s post is even true, she does state that the company features almost exclusively white British teachers. Do you know a large number of white West Africans in this country? I don’t.

Link please.

I'd like to wade through all the frothing non black posters and see for myself.

However, I doubt very much that we will see a link.

There's a massive shortage of music teachers, especially at primary school level. Not sure any school can afford to be too choosy about the person who delivers a music class - the alternative is probably that no music happens.

I am a Black woman.
I don't agree with the OP's question and think it needs challenging.

OP just post a link, or tell us the name of the business. I would like to see it too.

West African Drumming Classes, Birmingham, UK - Primal Sound

Drumroots West African Drumming foundations

About Hartbeats –

About Drumming Is Fun

(A small selection)

& an example of what I'd hoped it would be...

African workshops for schools from outstanding African artists

@DeeCeeCherry perfectly put and I'm sorry you have to read the same shit over again - especially in a space clearly not meant for it. Evidently the entitlement and need to be heard is just too powerful in some.

Oh wow sorry I've just re-read and seen your latest post @twilightcafe - got to say I'm genuinely surprised you feel that way! Came for opinions of black mumsnetters though so will take all on board.

Personally speaking, if I was going to an West African drumming class I would want, and expect to see somebody from that heritage running the class. I would be surprised to see someone from outside that culture running it. But saying that, it has always been everyone and their budgie making money off black people's traditions and culture .

thehighsandthelows
@DeeCeeCherry perfectly put and I'm sorry you have to read the same shit over again - especially in a space clearly not meant for it. Evidently the entitlement and need to be heard is just too powerful in some

Indeed.

I'll sometimes comment upon this Whitesplaining, me me me centre me bs when I see it but, most often ignore as its something I expect. & I won't consistently give the attention craved either.

I did raise a brow looking at some of those links. As said I do find in London anything goes, but outside London authenticity seems more of a requirement.

There are lots of arts organisations that are just gatekeepers really. They want African culture, the perceived 'cool' and to make money out of it. They don't want Africans around though.

Racists who totally lack awareness and likely see themselves as Liberals bringing culture to the masses, yeah man.

I'm sure Im not telling you anything you don't know already🙂

Although as I'm not black you don't want my opinion...

But you gave it anyway and with the same copy and paste "what if"-type scenarios. Ain't that something...

Anyway, OP, I think "African drumming" for some people has become part of some 'hippy-dippy' experience or lifestyle. I took a look at your links and yep, I'm not surprised it's that type of scene - it's obviously a white-majority activity in the West so that's what you'll see.

Some people would just type "African drumming" and get the quickest and cheapest they can find. If he's the only one available in your area, then what can you do but if not, then I agree it isn't right.

.

I’m also black and my opinion is quite mixed. It is a musical discipline and so it is being taught by professional practitioners. You don’t seem to be treating it as a discipline instead you seem to be treating it as a storytelling session, and I don’t think that’s right. It reduces it down to just being about racism or something when really it’s about a history of musical innovation and ingenuity.

I guess it it depends who he learned from. If there was a direct lineage of teaching from a West African musician to a white British student, I would class it as authentic, as long as the British musician had direct learning experience.

BUT, tbh, I think it's just workshop leaders jumping on the latest fashion. Drumming workshops are endlessly popular in the funded community engagement world because everyone enjoys it, and sometimes they just tag any culture label on it and change the drums/style slightly.

Yeah it's not what I would expect. Like if I went to a karate class I'd feel (probably wrongly) that it would be better if the teacher was Japanese?
But aside from the authenticity argument the worst bit for me is that it's a white person, doing a job a Black person should be doing. Like Black people haven't had enough obstacles thrown in their path?
I'm white, female, non British btw. It sucks enough being talked over or having your accent commented on! I'd be pissed if my culture was being explained by a non local.
Sorry I'm not being very clear but I hate these threads where white people jump on and go, oh well the white man was obviously the best candidate. Like why do you think the Black candidates weren't even in the damn picture? Grr

We’re getting something similar locally. Huge demand for bhangra as it’s a Punjabi area and many people need to be able to dance for religious events. Yet 90% of the suitable venues are booked out by ‘bhangra classes’ taught by white people who know one or two moves and nothing appropriate for a religious event (this shows in that they don’t have punjabi students). So the remaining authentic 10% of classes has waiting lists for years. It means that local Punjabi kids can’t learn about their own dances.

I guess it depends if he has lived experience- has he lived in a west African country/brought up there/learnt the culture, values and traditions in order to teach others about the music? I’d also question why there are so many white people teaching west African performing arts? In my area, white people deliver this (and they are excellent in my opinion) but I also think if west African people want west Africans to teach it, then they should go about getting the right qualifications to do it. The ones in my area teach varying types of music and west African drums is just one type that they learnt after being proficient in other instruments, due to demand. Tbh I can’t blame them if there is a gap in the market, no one is filling it, the LAs are willing to fund it and it’s quite easy for them to fill the gap

You don’t seem to be treating it as a discipline instead you seem to be treating it as a storytelling session,

But music as a discipline is storytelling - whether or not a narrative is made apparent. I wouldn’t want to pursue that train of thought much further - but it would be madness to assume most music is simply a value-free arrangement of notes. What could a history of musical innovation and ingenuity be but an evolving story of a particular culture?

Any class that is titled ‘African’ anything, rather than naming the specific country or region from which the thing originates is, frankly, Bound To Be Shit. So ‘West African’ is considerably less bad. But in the context described, it’s still absolutely the sort of thing I would avoid.

I’m just lost for words!!

Music is an integrative field in general but if the whole purpose of the offering is a West African drumming experience then I would expect it be delivered by someone deeply in the culture. If a booking is for Black History Month in particular then I'd cancel the booking. If this is a white British teacher then there is a whole body of Western folk and Morris rhythms to teach.