DISCOVERING BANTU AFRICAN INSTRUMENTS FROM CAMEROON

Atna Njock

A musician and heir to the Mbok hop Makin tradition—the language of tones—Atna Njock is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, guitarist, and master of the Nkuu drum. Grandson of a traditional chief, he has been initiated into the musical traditions of several African and Cameroonian tribes, including his own Bàsàa tribe and the Baka pygmies. He further enriched his knowledge with the Western tonal system and the diverse contemporary and indigenous musical genres of the world.

Objectives:

• Introduce participants to the diversity of Bantu African musical instruments
• Uncover the cultural origins and significance of these instruments through the Mbok hop Makin tradition—the language of tones
• Offer participants the opportunity to try playing some of these instruments

Summary of Activities:

• Presentation of the general sound alphabet of different instruments from the Mbok hop Makin tradition
• Overview of the musical, social, and sacred roles of the instruments
• Introduction to Bantu African instruments by category: chordophones, idiophones, aerophones, and membranophones
• Demonstrations of each instrument, presented as musical pieces
• Hands-on practice and orchestration with participants, experimenting with phrases from the Mbok hop Makin language of tones
• Exploration of the connection between these instruments and the contemporary global music scene

Suitable for all levels
Region: Montreal and beyond