Music as an Element in Establishing a Destination's Identity - Tapa blanda

This book engages themes which few have had the courage to confront. Chapters 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 essentially focused on the traditional and folk music tradition of the Pedi society; examining its cultural heritage, acculturative effects, educational values and organizational patterns. Different views about formal and informal learning across the globe and how it affects music education is the concern of the second chapter. The last chapter discusses some concluding thoughts and future directions. This chapter ultimately calls for the recognition of indigenous knowledge systems as valuable assets and sources of information. Of importance, is the fact that this book is written by the 'owner' of the Pedi musical tradition. My position is that true and objective Pedi musicology can only be developed by Pedi people themselves as no outsider can fully comprehend the meaning of Pedi music than Pedi people themselves. I wish to state categorically here that there is no way the true indigenous African music could be theorized, understood, practiced or taught correctly in contemporary times without those dimensions.

Morakeng E. K. Lebaka, PhD: Studied Music & Theology at University of Pretoria. Artistic director of University of Pretoria Brass Band (SA). Ethnomusicologist, Researcher, Musician, Workshops' Clinician, Music Educator, Choir Conductor, Adjudicator, Band Master, Multi-instrumentalist, Music Producer & Arranger, Theologian and World Traveller.