Superstitions in Modern African Musical Arts Performance

Abstract Superstitions have played a significant role in shaping the cultural practices and beliefs of African societies for centuries. In the realm of musical arts performance, superstition often intertwines with rituals, spirituality, and local traditions. It influences not only how music is created and performed, but also how it is received, perceived, and understood by the targeted audience. This article thus explores the intersection of musical arts performance and superstition in Africa. It does so by analysing how musicians and communities invoke superstitions in both ritualistic and everyday contexts. Through an examination of some African cultures and their respective musical traditions, I discuss the historical and contemporary relevance of superstition in musical arts performance. Significantly, I analyse the dual impact of superstition on performance – as both a source of inspiration and constraint – alongside the counter-arguments on and around modernity, secularisation, and globalisation in broadly reshaping African musical arts practices.