like, are they based on african music traditions of the continent.
I am not sure about afro-american music being based on church music, since I happen to know that African traditional music uses harmony singing more than most folk musics.
It’s a good question, and one that is pondered by musicologists.
What is accepted is that most drum rhythms were brought to the American continent from Africa for the purposes of storytelling, social gathering and songs. It’s also believed that European church music, plus other forms of music mixed with African rhythms is how the blues and jazz were born in the US.
Many of the songs actually originated in the fields where slaves worked, and evolved into all kinds of music like blues and jazz. So, much of it has roots right here in America.
References :
It’s a good question, and one that is pondered by musicologists.
What is accepted is that most drum rhythms were brought to the American continent from Africa for the purposes of storytelling, social gathering and songs. It’s also believed that European church music, plus other forms of music mixed with African rhythms is how the blues and jazz were born in the US.
References :