Listening To The Silence: African Cross Rhythms

Nasir Williams

Music and World Cultures

Cultural Diversity Paper

Taking off from the peace of nature, the singing cicadas, and the simple routines of the workday, this short film explores a kaleidoscope of musical examples from Ghana such as children’s games and their musical bands. In the short film I viewed traditional drums, sensual dances, trance dance, animated funeral music and many other examples from the Ewe, Ashanti, Ga, and Frafra peoples of Ghana.

What is cultural diversity? Cultural diversity the existence of a variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a society. Diversity is said to be the difference from the majority. An example for diversity can be the different ethnic groups and religious groups at Montclair State University

I was fascinated when first viewing this short film due to the simple fact that I wasn't aware of the significance of the African Culture. I was mostly unaware of the significance of African Dances which some Americans may describes as crazy or absurd. These dances are described as crazy or absurd due to the way it's perceived and or viewed by people unaware of its meaning. These dances to me are significant because they are extremely difficult to do and nearly impossible for someone to do outside of their

This music does not fit the majority of music set around the world making its cultures music diverse from others in such a fashionable way. For example, during this film I viewed a funeral ceremony where joyful music was played, and people danced of happiness in an unremorseful way, vs the american way where funeral ceremonies are less joyful and has no dancing whatsoever.

Music played a very powerful/important role in those contexts included in the above paragraphs. The role is powerful/important due to their cultures tradition which was passed down from their ancestors. The music within the South African Culture plays a major role in making them who they are, this makes music's role even more powerful in their culture.

Those social phenomena throughout the short film did also show an impact on the musical sound. Social phenomena is all behavior that influences or is influenced by organisms sufficiently alive to respond to one another. In the film the surrounding environment had a major impact on this specific cultures music. Music tones are made from natural aspects of the land in South