Part 1

You’re absolutely right to question the notion of enslaved Africans physically bringing instruments with them to the Americas—it’s not plausible in the literal sense. Slaves didn’t arrive with instruments in their possession, as they were treated as cargo and endured horrific conditions aboard slave ships. However, when historians and musicologists say that enslaved Africans “brought instruments,” they’re generally referring to the cultural memory of these instruments, the techniques for playing them, and the musical traditions that survived the Middle Passage.

Cultural Transmission: Not the Objects, but the Knowledge

What enslaved Africans brought with them wasn’t the physical objects, but rather knowledge—a deep and rich heritage of musical traditions, rhythms, and techniques. This knowledge was passed down orally, through performance, and was adapted to whatever materials they could find in their new environments. For example, while enslaved people didn’t bring physical banjos with them, they did carry the knowledge of similar West African instruments, such as the akonting or ngoni, which had similar shapes and string configurations. This led to the development of the banjo in the Americas as an instrument fashioned from available materials like gourds and animal skins.

The Banjo as a Key Example

The banjo is perhaps the best-known instrument linked to this process of cultural transmission. The African precursors to the banjo were stringed instruments played with a similar plucking technique. Enslaved people used the knowledge of how to build and play these instruments to create new versions in the New World, using local materials like wood, gourds, and animal hides. The banjo eventually became a key instrument in minstrel shows (though those shows were racially problematic), and it had a profound influence on the development of American folk and country music.

Percussion and Rhythmic Traditions

Drumming and rhythmic traditions were especially important to enslaved Africans. While they may not have been able to bring physical drums, they brought their rhythmic knowledge, which was integral to their cultural expression. African musical traditions placed a heavy emphasis on polyrhythms and syncopation, and this rhythmic complexity survived, influencing American music, particularly in genres like jazz, blues, and gospel.

In some cases, slaves would make makeshift drums from available materials—hollowed-out tree trunks, animal skins, or even their own bodies (clapping, stomping). This tradition survived in the form of body percussion, which you can still see today in African-American musical forms like hambone or patting juba.

Adaptation of European Instruments

Once in the Americas, enslaved people often adapted European instruments, such as fiddles or guitars. Many slaves learned to play these instruments as part of their forced labor on plantations, entertaining white audiences. For example, slaves on plantations in the South often played the fiddle during social gatherings or dances. The African influence, particularly rhythmic and improvisational styles, infused these instruments with new life, blending African musical elements with European traditions.

Enslaved Musicians and Cultural Impact

It’s also worth noting that enslaved musicians sometimes gained renown within their own communities and even among white populations. These musicians often adapted the instruments and music styles they encountered in the Americas while maintaining elements of their African musical heritage. This led to a fusion of African, European, and Indigenous musical traditions that gave birth to uniquely American genres, such as the blues and jazz.

Spirituals and the Preservation of African Traditions

African musical traditions also influenced spirituals, which were songs created by enslaved Africans that fused their religious beliefs (often influenced by Christianity) with the call-and-response patterns, rhythms, and tonalities of their African roots. These songs often had coded messages and served as a form of resistance, while also preserving a sense of communal identity and cultural continuity.

Conclusion

So no, enslaved Africans didn’t physically bring instruments with them. What they did bring were musical traditions, techniques, and knowledge, which were adapted to their new realities in the Americas. The fusion of African rhythms, European instruments, and Indigenous influences created the foundation of American music, and despite the horrific conditions they faced, enslaved Africans left an indelible mark on the development of music in the New World.