My Guiding Question for my trip to Senegal is: How is music in Senegal used for storytelling and identity?
The answer to this question was not what I expected it to be. I had heard a lot about the importance of the griot in storytelling and passing along the history of the community the griot represented. However, young members of each community have moved on to watching videos on platforms such as TikTok and YouTube, so the griots are slowly declining in popularity and effectiveness. Also, I was fully expecting to experience Senegalese drumming everywhere I went, as that is what I was taught in school. I only got to see Senegalese drumming once, unfortunately. What I did see is how students use music to improve their understanding of the English language. Students would often sing songs by Rhianna, Michael Jackson, and Adele to show off their connection to music, and their English proficiency. They learned songs such as "If You're Happy and You Know It," and the "ABC Song" to help them with English fluency. They found American songs that had lyrics and feelings that they connected with. Wherever I went, music was present - just not in the way I was hoping to see. I never expected to come to Senegal and hear the same songs I can hear in Wisconsin, but that is very much what I experienced. I did get the chance to listen to mbalax, a type of music popular in Senegal as well, and found it to have a reggae feel that was perfect for a country with so much ocean coast! It turns out that music in Senegal is used for learning English, relaxing at the beach, and connecting with others.