An Approach to the Use of West African Musics in the Classroom Based on Age and Gender Classifications

This article proposes age and gender as a way of classifying music; it raises awareness of the importance of age–gender classifications of West African musics; and introduces examples of West African musics. It is argued that the classifications could help in selecting musics for curricular use: they could be used as a framework to choose African musics for school curricula; while the musical examples may be of some use to teachers. Three curricular perspectives – musical, intercultural and multidisciplinary – are suggested, the first of which draws on African drumming procedures and creative work.