Towards the Standardisation of African Musical Instruments: The At?nt?b?n in Perspective

Abstract

This paper interrogates the concept of standardisation in the development of the Ghanaian at?nt?b?n (bamboo flute) as an indigenous African musical instrument. The paper draws a clear distinction between the concepts of ‘Standardisation’ and ‘Westernisation ‘as it applies to the development of indigenous African musical instruments like the at?nt?b?n. The paper further explores the challenges (tuning, finishing and packaging) that the At?nt?b?n and some other Ghanaian musical instruments face outside their primordial origins. To this end, ethnographic and case study designs were employed. The paper makes the point that applying Western sense of standardisation to the development of African musical instruments is bound to create problems in construction, usage and appreciation both within and outside the cultural context of the instrument.