Function of musical instruments in surrogate languages in Africa: a clarification

The use of musical instruments for communicating over long distances is not unique to Africa. However, its practice and the accuracy with which information is transmitted rom one region to anotherin this continent, continue to lend themselves to scientific investigation. Examination of the bulk of the existing literature on the matter dating from the days of the early travelers, reveals authors' concern geared toward linguistic consideration in trying to decipher the implied technic of transmission, morphological description of the musical instruments used in the process and their geographic distribution in a given African area. The use of musical instruments for communicating over long distances is not unique to Africa. However, its practice and the accuracy with which information is transmitted from one region to another in this continent, continue to lend themselves to scientific investigations