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Have you ever felt a deep connection to a piece of music, as if it resonated with something deep within your soul? What if that connection went beyond personal preference and tapped into the echoes of your ancestors? That's the captivating concept behind ancestral memory in music, and it's a journey we're about to explore.
Recently, I had the privilege of listening to a conversation between National Geographic Explorer and archaeologist Justin Dunnavant and the incredibly talented Grammy-nominated trumpeter, Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah. Their discussion, featured on the Overheard at National Geographic podcast, delved into the fascinating intersection of music, history, and ancestral memory.
Chief Xian, known for his innovative approach to music, which he calls "stretch music," shared his experience recording his album Ancestral Recall. He described a profound realization: the rhythms he was spontaneously creating mirrored traditional African rhythms, rhythms he had never consciously learned. It was as if the music of his ancestors flowed through him, transcending time and connecting him to his heritage in a deeply personal way.
This idea of ancestral memory resonated strongly with Justin, whose work as a marine archaeologist focuses on excavating the tangible remnants of the past, particularly shipwrecks from the transatlantic slave trade. He sees his work as a form of recovering ancestral memory, piecing together the fragmented stories of those who came before.
"What would you call yourself?" Justin asks Chief Xian during their conversation.
"I'm recovering ancestral memory," Chief Xian replies. "That's what I tell myself, and I'm still exploring what that means and what it entails."
This powerful exchange highlights the universal human desire to connect with our roots, to understand where we come from and how our ancestors' experiences shape who we are today.
Chief Xian's journey to create a new instrument, the Ajawose Bo, further exemplifies this deep connection to heritage. This double-sided harp, meticulously crafted to reflect the musical traditions of West Africa, is more than just an instrument; it's a tangible link to the past, a way to ensure that the sounds of his ancestors continue to resonate for generations to come.
"I wanted to create an instrument that was tethered to West Africa in a way that had ancestral memory built into the actual methodology and how it's actually shaped," Chief Xian explains.
This commitment to preserving and celebrating cultural heritage is at the heart of both Chief Xian and Justin's work. They remind us that music has the power to transcend boundaries, to connect us to something larger than ourselves, and to keep the stories of our ancestors alive.
As you listen to music, I encourage you to consider the deeper layers of meaning embedded within the melodies and rhythms. You might be surprised by the connections you uncover and the ancestral echoes you hear whispering through the sound.
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