An exposition of musical arts education in Malawi

[摘要] English: Musical Arts are a vibrant and integral part of life and culture in the Jali area. Zombadistrict. Southern Malawi. The musical arts types (magule) are a means by which culturallysignificant knowledge. attitudes and skills are expressed and transmitted. to ensure thelongevity of the way of life in Jali.This is a study of the musical arts education system as it exists in the Jali area. Due to thenature and intimate role of the magule in the culture of Jali, to learn the magule in the Jaliarea is to learn critical aspects of how and why the culture and everyday life of thecommunity is both informed and re-formed. Inevitably. this is also a study of the culture ofpeople in the area. giving this music education study an ethnographic approach.I observed. documented. and participated in the performance of three magule, namelyMalangalanga. Manganje and Mganda. Interviews were conducted with adults as well aschildren. Through these means I have attempted to discover how the musical arts educationsystem operates.Learning in this musical arts education system is practical and marked by high efficacy onthe part of the learners. Their motivation resides in the desire to participate. and interact. Alearner benefits through a combination of both informal and formal learning. Magule arelearnt through the informal techniques of observational learning. play. trial-and-error.peer education and cooperative learning. Children observe and imitate through trial-and error.during play either alone or with other children. Formal education occurs duringinitiation and in apprenticeship.Community is the bedrock on which cultural practices including the magule find theirmeaning and purpose. This fact is well documented in the culture and language through proverbs such as, Mutu umodzi siusenza denge (one head cannot hoist up a roof-tosuccessfully accomplish a task one needs the help of others). The overarching objective ofthe musical arts education system is twofold, To express. communicate and embody thecommunity; and thereby building character. Both community building and characterbuilding are geared towards cultivating Umunthu (humanness). Being human ( munthu) isunderstood as more than a biological fact. but is a qualitative distinction. This distinction isbased on whether a person exhibits attitudes and behaviour that shows values for others'wellbeing. and is able to live morally. in adhering to the society's values and beliefs.Umunthu is an internal state that manifests externally in khalidwe la bwino (good/moralbehaviour). Umunthu and its corresponding behaviour and attitudes. which the culturedeems desirable for communal wellness, are obtained through the process of enculturationand manifests in everyday life and in magule.Ultimately. the learners are expected to become fully functional and productive members ofthe community; equipped with the knowledge. skill. attitudes and experience particular anduseful to the community of Jali; able to participate fully in the performances and all thatthey signify. Learners are expected to posses Umunthu which results in khalidwe Ja bwino(good behaviour). leading to the transmission and perpetuity of the culture of Jali.specifically through magule.

[发布机构] University of the Free State