Minstrel Banjos in England

[Morgan Sabnis Etches]

I've just recently discovered early banjo style although I've been playing clawhammer for a couple of years now. I'm particularly interested in the links between early banjo and african music as I listen to a lot of saharan desert blues. I was wondering if anyone knows of good dealers of fretless banjos in England and/or books for beginners in the style?

[Morgan Sabnis Etches]

sorry i should have been more clear, the thing about banjos in England was more about networking, finding people in England who are also interested in minstrel banjo style.

Dan'l said:

Morgan -

You bring up several things.

For the African connection, you may want to familiarize yourself with the ongoing work of Ulf Jagfors, perhaps his blog at http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendI...

Clearly, what we know as banjos were first imported into Africa, not exported from Africa. Still, African plucked lutes of various types, created in the new world by imported slaves from that country, were the major inspiration and source behind the early 19th century American invention: the 5-string banjo. Today the best known surviving plucked-lute instrument is the Akonting.

And what we know as Blues was first imported into Africa, not exported from Africa. Still, African tonalities and rhythms, created in the new world by descendants of imported slaves from that country, were the major inspiration and source behind that early 20th century American invention: The Blues.

English banjos were invented not long after American banjos were imported from America. Early on, English banjos were patterned on the closed-back types from America. That type stayed popular in the U.K., and they went on to develop unique arrangements of strings, and went to metal strings more often. English banjos are sometimes called Zither banjos for that reason.

I'm not seeing a clear relationship between all these elements, but let us know how you're tracking it.

Dan Wykes