Analysis of the language techniques and thematic - University of the ...

1.7.3 BASOTHO MUSIC
The section covers various materials that have dealt with Basotho music in general.
Mokhali (1966) makes a brief overview of the Basotho traditional music and dancing. He
defines sixteen Sesotho traditional musical instruments, how they are used and who uses
them. He goes further to describe four Basotho dances and those who participate in them.
Mokhali addresses the traditional Basotho music and dances which have not been
influenced by the western world. His contribution does not relate to the music which is
influenced by European domination, where instruments and dancing differ from the
traditional ones. Therefore, Mokhali’s work still leaves room for the present study to be
conducted.
Another relevant text is The Ethnomusicology of the Basotho by Moitse (1994). This is a
comprehensive piece of research which treats music as an integral part of the Basotho
cultural institutions. The contents highlight the role and the significance of music in the
cultural institutions of the Basotho such as ancestral worship, traditional healing,
initiation and birth. The study by Moitse, though it treats Basotho music, pursues a
different direction by paying special attention to the role of music in cultural practices. It
is related to the study in that it deals with accordion music as an adopted type of music as
it bears some aspects of Basotho oral literature. Again, one finds that Moitse’s study
looks at the performer, audience, art of performance, context and the songs sung in such
performances, while this research pays attention to the songs, the language, the content,
the role of music and its reception by the nation.
1.7.4 AFRICAN MUSIC IN GENERAL
The researcher referred to some works which analyse African music in general in order to
make a general observation with regard to common features among Africans’ songs in
relation to Basotho accordion music. Stern’s Guide to Contemporary African Music by
Graham (1988) provides a review of the contemporary African music, with special focus
on a brief history of organization and production. The review covers West African,
Central African, East African and Southern African regions of the continent. The guide
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