Shaping Diasporic Sounds: Identity as Meaning in Bhangra

Bhangra originated in India as a male folk dance performed in the villages of Punjab during the harvest festivities. Following the migrations of Punjabis to Britain, a new form of bhangra, characterised by the encounter between the traditional dance and mainstream Anglo-American popular music, sprea...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:World of music 2004-01, Vol.46 (1), p.109-132
Main Author: Leante, Laura
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bhangra
Bhangra music (India)
British music
Contemporary music
Cultural Identity
Diaspora
Diasporas
Ethnic communities
Ethnomusicology
Field Work (Research)
Hybrid Music
Identity
Immigrant adaptation
Immigrants
Indian culture
Indians
Music
Musical instruments
Musical register
Musicians
Pop Music
Popular music
Punjabi
Punjabi Music
United Kingdom
Vocal music
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Summary:Bhangra originated in India as a male folk dance performed in the villages of Punjab during the harvest festivities. Following the migrations of Punjabis to Britain, a new form of bhangra, characterised by the encounter between the traditional dance and mainstream Anglo-American popular music, spread through the communities of the Indian diaspora, coming to constitute one of the means for immigrants both to identify themselves as "Punjabis in England" and to reaffirm their tradition and social values. This paper investigates the musical processes through which British bhangra is shaped, the grounds on which the appropriation of mainstream pop takes place and how bhangra contributes to the construction of diasporic identity.
ISSN:0043-8774