SOUNDS POWERFUL West African Islamic Considerations in African American Song

This thesis is interdisciplinary in nature; it comprises linguistic, historical, religious, scientific in addition to literary discussions. It examines aspects of African American music from a West African and Islamic perspective. The introduction explains how Jungian analytical psychology is adopted as a primary research methodology. In the first chapter, Islamic elements are identified in African American song in order to provide valid interpretations that are made by introducing Qur’anic verses and Prophetic sayings (i.e. Hadiths). The second chapter examines how music and spirituality affect the human psyche by working as a healing power. This chapter contains scientific facts that, again, help in understanding and interpreting African American song, especially slave song. The first and second chapters pave the way for the discussions of the third chapter in which spirituals are discussed as songs that are about life and death. The last chapter explores how seeking knowledge is an essential part of the Islamic faith, and how education was sought after by slaves, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, in their quest for freedom. The link that connects all of the chapters is presented in the introduction and conclusion of the thesis; both discuss the interrelationship between them, taking note of the research methods and including cross-referencing to clarify the connection between the chapters and make stronger arguments