LEARNING TOGETHER: The Story of America
The banjo is a musical instrument. Bania or banju as it was called was brought to America by enslaved West Africans. The banjo is mostly associated with folk music, but it has been used in other types of music such as jazz (another creation of Black Americans).
The original African banjo had a drum-like body with long strings of different lengths. This beautiful instrument used in African traditions and storytelling is now used to tell the story of life in America.
Noteworthy Fact(s):
Minstrel show performers wore blackface (used to promote Black inferiority) while playing the banjo.
There were banjos made especially for women.
OUR HISTORY MATTERS
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