Musical Anthropology of the Konso (Online)

This study explores the folk musical instruments, songs and cultural activities of a community residing southwest in the Konso zone of Ethiopia, specifically Fasha and Gamole. The focus of this research is on folk music, associated ceremonies and how the Konso musical traditions are practiced today.

The study is based around a musical ethnography approach grounded in a conceptual framework of music as culture and relied upon data collection through observation, participant observation, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, musical discographies and the reviewing of documents. The findings identified key folk instruments, including horns, wind instruments, percussion and lyres, with particular focus on the Komborta, Kawla and Kihayitta instruments.

The study also examines traditional folk music styles and dances such as Irgotta and Leotta. Overall, the musical characteristics of the Konso community reveal highly synchronised, sophisticated and complex patterns of music and dance, which will be explored in depth in the session.