The Role of Traditional Musical Instruments During Bapedi People’s Religious and Cultural Practices: The Case of Selected Membranophones and Aerophones

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to investigate the use of three Bapedi traditional musical instruments in religious and cultural practices. The instruments are meropa (drums), dinaka (whistles and reed pipes) and phalafala (sable antelope horn). Bapedi musical instruments are frequently employed in both vocal and instrumental dance ensembles, as well as in festivals, religious rites, and funeral processions.In traditional Bapedi civilization, there are a variety of rites.Some are associated with human life cycles and are referred to as rites of passage.Others are conducted at times of adversity, such as sickness or drought. Others are seasonal and have anything to do with crop planting or harvesting.The purpose of these rites is to keep the cosmic power in balance.Oral interviews were the primary source of information.Publications and records are examples of secondary sources.Photographing various instruments, seeing videos of performances, and conducting semi-structured interviews with nine (9) traditional musicians were among the other approaches used. The following research question therefore guided this study: what are the religious and cultural functions of meropa (drums), dinaka (whistles and reed pipes) and phalafala (sable antelope horn) during religious and cultural practices of Bapedi people? The purpose of this contribution is to show that Bapedi religious and cultural practices need not to be seen as superstitious, magic, pagan or as evil. The findings revealed that the three traditional musical instruments studied have varying effects on Bapedi society's social, religious, and cultural activities. Although it was concluded that all three play a role, it was found that drums play the most important part in both religious and cultural practices.