Paper long abstract:

Over the years, Music scholars have conducted African music research using universally accepted standards and languages from America and Europe. However, African music scholars have adopted indigenous concepts as the western idioms no longer serve the purpose of thorough academic research in African studies and ethnomusicology. Several music scholars have attempted a unified mode of concepts indigenous to the people in their region (Nketia, Nzewi, Ekwueme, Mapaya,). A major challenge is the use of language acceptable to all in the African region. While this seem to be successful with music scholars from these regions, there is still no unified system agreed upon that engages musical elements and concepts in the indigenous language. This paper, therefore, examines the use of indigenous languages in African music. It analysis the many attempts made by African scholars and highlights the challenges such could have on the overall music process in Africa. Ultimately, this study charts a way by which African musicians can start engaging in the 'scientification' process of African music using indigenous elements that the people will understand.