ABSTRACT
Studies of southern Africa usually define their subject as the southern tip of the continent. Madagascar is geologically a part of southern Africa, but its culture, including its music, derived from cultures of Southeast Asia, whence came its languages and the ancestors of most of its inhabitants. Since music is a part of human culture, the cultural traits of southern Africa are relevant to the study of music there. Southern Africa shares with much of central Africa a history of hierarchical societies. One feature distinguishing southern Africa is that the musical bow is the major chordophone. Southern African societies exchanged cultural and musical features far back in the past. One of the most important musical traditions in southern Africa is that of the Chopi. An important feature of musical change in southern Africa was the activity of Christian missionaries, both as proponents of new religious doctrines and as purveyors of European education.
