Sanguma
Description
Sorcerer who can fly and kill through magic, greatly feared in highlands
Origin & Background
Sanguma is a music ensemble from Papua New Guinea that was active from 1977 to 1985. This group is regarded as one of the first Papua New Guinean music groups to perform internationally by combining Papua New Guinea's cultural traditional music with Western instruments. Sanguma was formed in 1977 through an educational program called Creative Workshop at the Papua New Guinea National Arts School, which emphasized learning in real-life situations and the natural oral tradition skills of the Papua New Guinean people. Students were encouraged to share the traditional music and culture of their communities and to arrange it in a modern way.
The Legend
Sanguma had its first performance in November 1977, and from 1978 onwards, it began performing in schools across the country and representing Papua New Guinea at international cultural events. The group grew with close support from Australian musician Ric Halstead starting in 1979. Sanguma reinterpreted traditional music in a modern way by using contemporary amplified instruments to complement traditional flutes, drums, and vocal sequences.
In Popular Culture
From 1979 to 1982, Sanguma performed in several countries under the mentorship of Ric Halstead. They toured the U.S. West Coast in 1983 with the British reggae band Steel Pulse, receiving positive reviews and promoting the traditions of Papua New Guinea while indirectly supporting the emerging tourism industry. Denis Crowdy's book 'Hearing the Future: The Music and Magic of the Sanguma Band' documents and analyzes Sanguma's music and activities, arguing that their music was an important cultural expression that resonated with the sociopolitical changes occurring in Papua New Guinea at the time.
This article is based on the Wikipedia article "Sanguma" (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikipedia
Abilities
- 비행