This study examines structural similarities between the gourd banjo and 61 West African lutes using two quantitative approaches (UGPMA and NeighborNet). The banjo groups with a cluster of lutes from Senegambia, suggesting the egalitarian social context of lute playing in Bakic language-speaking cultures influenced the banjo's development among enslaved populations in the Caribbean. However, the banjo also shows similarities to Niger Basin lutes, highlighting heterogeneous cultural influences.
Publisher
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
Published On
Oct 26, 2022
Authors
Ethan L. Fulwood
Tags
gourd banjo
West African lutes
structural similarities
cultural influences
Bakic cultures
enslaved populations
Caribbean
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