This article is a study of the musical structure of the mamaby songs in Iran.

What is it about?

This article is the first study of the musical structure of the mamaby songs, an endangered tradition particularly prevalent among Afro-Baloch (AfB) communities along the south-eastern coast of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The data was obtained through direct interviews with Baloch and AfB community members, and by recording and filming musical performances in context. The musical structure of two songs performed by a well-known singer and a chorus from Bahukalat was analysed. The results suggest that although AfB communities have lost their language in favour of Balochi, they have retained some musical traditions closely related to East African music. While this preliminary study has not identified specific songs, it shows that the overall tonal organization of the analysed songs is based on a pentatonic scale, one of the basic features of various music cultures in East Africa, and that the musical style employs a call-and-response system, also characteristic of East African Music.

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Why is it important?

This article is the first study of the musical structure of the mamaby songs, an endangered tradition particularly prevalent among Afro-Baloch (AfB) communities along the south-eastern coast of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The data was obtained through direct interviews with Baloch and AfB community members, and by recording and filming musical performances in context. The musical structure of two songs performed by a well-known singer and a chorus from Bahukalat was analysed. The results suggest that although AfB communities have lost their language in favour of Balochi, they have retained some musical traditions closely related to East African music. While this preliminary study has not identified specific songs, it shows that the overall tonal organization of the analysed songs is based on a pentatonic scale, one of the basic features of various music cultures in East Africa, and that the musical style employs a call-and-response system, also characteristic of East African Music.

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