Maila-go-fenywa, Rangwato Magoro and Mmino wa Kosa: some perspectives on theory and practice

Abstract

Looking at current African music studies, one notices an interesting shift from the `norm' to a fresh engagement and analysis. Fresh perspectives are increasingly being presented to position African music dialogue in the arena of the so-called `established music fields'. While these developments are noticeable, the unmentioned, unsung and uncelebrated indigenous African music practitioners, composers, performers, poets, praise singers and so forth must not be forgotten. This work does not claim novelty in terms of the latter gap, but takes the debate further to highlight, though in a small way, such a need. Mme Rangwato Magoro, from Malatane village in the greater Ga-Seloane community, is included as the main research collaborator in this brief piece of work. The work may come as a shock to any established researcher in music and music science. The author could not help but attempt to allow the voice of Mme Magoro to determine the format and content of this piece of work. In addition, the Maila-go-fenywa performance group is linked with the compositional and performance work and the praise poems of Mme Magoro. In conclusion, discussions and debates on musical arts education are addressed in terms of implementation, with examples drawn from the work of Maila-go-fenywa.