African Meditation Music
There are, in fact, lots of definitions of meditation. While on one hand it happens to be continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature, on the other hand it is a contemplation of spiritual matters (usually on religious or philosophical subjects). Whatever it is meditation has its root in the eastern culture and has been practiced for thousands of years by different cultures throughout the world. However, according to latest studies, almost each and every region of the world has it own way of meditation.
Even Africa or the second largest continent; located to the south of Europe and bordered to the west by the South Atlantic and to the east by the Indian Ocean, has its own version although it is guided by paganism. There is also a distinctiveness. Keep in mind that the process of meditation in the continent of Africa is controlled by music to a certain extent. Music? Yes, it is. Are you naïve to the application of music in meditation? If it is, learn how the sacred word “Om" is chanted in Hinduism along with music. This is regarded as the finest expression of meditation known hitherto.
On the contrary, drums and their rhythms in the African mediation world reign supreme and this is indeed a part of the music. What makes the use of drums and their rhythms so prominent? This has been a part of the African tribal cultures and drums have always played an important role in the use of rituals and religious ceremonies, to express themselves and for communication purposes. In addition, drum is considered a deep and sacred element of the indigenous culture and the beat of the drum is believed to be on the same wavelength with the heartbeat of mother earth.
It should also be kept in mind that Africans profess a wide variety of religious beliefs and statistics on religious affiliation are difficult to come by since they are too sensitive a topic for governments with mixed populations. If we conform to Encyclopedia Britannica, it can be found that roughly speaking 46.5% of all Africans are Christian and another 40.5% are Muslim, while 11.8% follow indigenous African religions. A small number of Africans are Hindu, Baha'i, or have beliefs from the Judaic tradition. Examples of African Jews are the Beta Israel, Lemba peoples and the Abayudaya of Eastern Uganda. All these indicate that the practice of meditation differs on account of unlike religious standpoints and the least is said of any cohesive notion is better.
It must be stated, at the same time, that this African meditation music (however diminutive its range is) is influencing several people of other countries as well. How? People are getting conscious that drumming brings about deep relaxation, lowers blood pressure, and reduces stress. What is more, drumming promotes the production of endorphins, the bodies own morphine-like pain killers, and can thereby help in the control of pain and those suffering grief.
Last but not least, music therapists and therapy programs are progressively using more drums and rhythm to encourage healing and self-expression. Experts state that it can be used as a valuable treatment for stress, fatigue, anxiety, hypertension, asthma, cancer, multiple sclerosis and more.