Stevie Wonder's ode to African music heritage
What's the story
Music legend Stevie Wonder has never shied away from expressing his deep love and respect for Africa's vibrant musical heartbeat.
His own groundbreaking music is infused with the soul-stirring rhythms, instruments, and melodies of the African continent.
In honor of Stevie Wonder's lifelong celebration of Africa's musical gifts, this article features books that illuminate the continent's powerful musical legacy and its profound influence on the world's music scenes.
Insight 1
'Africa's Great Civilizations'
Africa's Great Civilizations by Henry Louis Gates Jr. dives deep into the continent's vibrant past, shedding light on its profound musical legacy.
Gates reveals music's central role in African societies, serving as both a crucial component of social ceremonies and a powerful tool of resistance against colonial oppression.
This book provides a fascinating exploration of the rhythmic roots that have influenced world-renowned artists, such as Stevie Wonder.
Insight 2
The rhythms that shaped rock and roll
The Birth of Loud: Leo Fender, Les Paul, and the Guitar-Pioneering Rivalry That Shaped Rock 'n' Roll by Ian S. Port dives deep into the African rhythms that electrified American music.
Although not exclusively about Africa, this book highlights the continent's musical heartbeat pulsing through rock and roll—a genre profoundly influenced by African artists like Stevie Wonder.
Insight 3
Modern echoes of ancient beats
Music in West Africa: Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture by Ruth M. Stone is a vibrant journey into the heart of West African music, pulsating with the rhythms that have shaped modern sounds worldwide.
Stone paints a vivid picture of how these timeless beats echo through jazz, blues, and even pop music—basically all genres where Stevie Wonder has left an indelible mark.
Insight 4
The global journey of Afrobeat
Afrobeat! Fela Kuti and Twenty-First-Century Grooves from Lagos to London by Trevor Schoonmaker maps Afrobeat's journey from its birth in Nigeria to its global explosion.
It highlights how trailblazing musicians like Fela Kuti inspired global icons like Stevie Wonder.
A must-read to appreciate Afrobeat's influence on contemporary music scenes worldwide.
Insight 5
Celebrating Africa through its instruments
Paul Berliner's The Soul of Mbira: Music and Traditions of the Shona People of Zimbabwe delves deep into the cultural significance and global musical influence of the mbira or thumb piano.
This book by Berliner is a must-read to fully appreciate the instrument's influence on global music, and provides a fascinating glimpse for Stevie Wonder fans into the vast array of instruments he utilizes.