RE-7:  Remember that you don’t have to answer all the questions here.  It might be better to focus on just one or two.  The additional questions might still be useful to get you thinking, though, even if you don’t write about them.

Topic 1: Describe the roles a jeli plays in his community.  For whom does a jeli play, and what does he need to know in order to fulfill these responsibilities?   Why is he (sometimes she) sometimes resented?  How is a jeli compensated?  What are the most common instruments of jaliya, and what Hornbostel-Sachs instrument category and sub-category does each belong to? 

OR

Topic set 2: What particular structural quality of Twi language spoken by the Asante people allows an atumpan drummer to create “surrogate language” with his instrument(s)? What elements of culture does an atumpan drummer need to know in order to effectively use his drums to convey language that is meaningful to other Akan people?  On what occasions might the atumpan be used, and what different modes would an atumpan player play this set of drums in?  Why would an atumpan player have to be cautious about what he “says” with the drums? 

Describe some common elements in both the instrumentation and performance of West African drum orchestras.  Why are West African bell patterns almost always asymmetrical? Why does the material bells are made of play a role in the function the instrument has in many ensembles? How are musical structures created in drum orchestras in terms of density and repetition?