What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to explore the meaning and impact of being an African composer on their creative process and output.

April 3, 2026Open Access

The Current Situation of an African Composer

AKAndile KhumaloUniversity of the Witwatersrand

Key Points

The aim is to explore the meaning and impact of being an African composer on their creative process and output.
Critical examination of the term 'African composer'
Investigation of cultural and creative complexities
Analysis of composers' approaches to composition
Clarification of the term 'African composer' and its significance
Insights into how Africanness influences the composition process
Understanding of the relationship between cultural identity and creative output

Abstract

This article critically examines how the concept of ‘Africanness’ in musical composition shapes the creative output of composers originating or with ancestry from the African continent. I start by investigating the complexities surrounding the term ‘African composer’, what the usage of the term means for Africans in their creative process, and ultimately, how it shapes their approach to composing.

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