6/25/24, 2:49 PM Islam, Blues, and Black Fiddling – a Bibliography – Mae Mai

MAE MAI

Islam, Blues, and Black Fiddling – a Bibliography

A number of Black and ethnically Arab scholars and ethnomusicologists have looked at the connection
between Blues, Islam, and African American fiddling traditions and a handful of European musicians
and researchers in the Blues have commented on the similarity of Blues as a modal system and how that
might connect with Arabic Maqam and Indian Raga. This says a lot about the tools and background
knowledge that researchers bring with them and why most [White] scholars and educators in American
Music programs take a decidedly Anglo and/or Eurocentric [and Essentialist] approach to the Blues and
those connections.

Many of the issues of this type of exclusion are echoed in my commentary and analysis about
<Perpetually Foreign Music (https://twitter.com/Silpayamanant/status/1398450470902013954)> and
especially in my Early Black Musicians, Composers, and Music Scholars (505-1505 CE)
(https://silpayamanant.wordpress.com/bmc_505-1505/) piece, Slave Orchestras, Choirs, Bands, and
Ensembles bibliography (https://silpayamanant.wordpress.com/socbe-bib/), and Arabic Music Theory
(650-1650) Bibliography (https://silpayamanant.wordpress.com/amt-bib-project/) project.

This page is an extension of a MyBib page (https://www.mybib.com/b/w8WADB) resource, Islam, African

American Fiddling, and the Blues, which I’m no longer updating and which has limited functionality for
annotations and endnotes. As with many of my other online bibliography projects this is an ongoing
work and will be updated and annotated as I have the time.

Image: Mobile Strugglers, a Black String Band from Alabama active in the 1940s-50s.

PUBLISHED 7/1/2021; LAST UPDATED 12/10/2022

Abel, Mark. (2015). Groove: An Aesthetic of Measured Time. The Netherlands: Brill Academic Publishers.

Abdullah, Z. (2010). Black Mecca: The African Muslims of Harlem. https://doi.org/

(https://doi.org/)10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195314250.001.0001
(https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195314250.001.0001)

Baylor, L. (2013, January 2). The Islamic Influence on the Blues: Interview with Jonathan Curiel.
Communicators Radio Show. https://youtu.be/i9McsxBbrMM (https://youtu.be/i9McsxBbrMM)

Borneman, E. (1959). Creole Echoes. Jazz Review, 2(8), 14–15.

Bossert, Jeff. (2022, February 4). Fiddler Earl White finds his footing in Floyd. [Radio; Online]. Radio IQ.
https://www.wvtf.org/news/2022-02-04/fiddler-earl-white-finds-his-footing-in-floyd
(https://www.wvtf.org/news/2022-02-04/fiddler-earl-white-finds-his-footing-in-floyd).

Coleman, A. (2010, March). Fiddling in West Africa: A Conversation with Professor Jacqueline Cogdell DjeDje.
FolkWorks. https://folkworks.org/old-columnists/folk-beat-audrey-coleman/36482-fiddling-in-west-
africa (https://folkworks.org/old-columnists/folk-beat-audrey-coleman/36482-fiddling-in-west-africa)
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Islam, Blues, and Black Fiddling

Curiel, J. (2004, August 15). Muslim roots of the blues / The music of famous American blues singers reaches back
through the South to the culture of West Africa. SFGATE. https://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/Muslim-
roots-of-the-blues-The-music-of-famous-2701489.php (https://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/Muslim-
roots-of-the-blues-The-music-of-famous-2701489.php)

Curiel, J. (2006). Saudi Aramco World : Muslim Roots, U.S. Blues. Aramco
World. https://archive.aramcoworld.com/issue/200604/muslim.roots.u.s.blues.htm
(https://archive.aramcoworld.com/issue/200604/muslim.roots.u.s.blues.htm)

Diouf, S. A. (n.d.). African Muslims and American Blues. Muslim Voices: Arts &
Ideas. http://www.muslimvoicesfestival.org/resources/african-muslims-and-american-blues
(http://www.muslimvoicesfestival.org/resources/african-muslims-and-american-blues)

Diouf, S. A. (1999). Sadaqa among African Muslims Enslaved in the Americas. Journal of Islamic
Studies, 10(1), 22–32. https://doi.org/ (https://doi.org/)10.1093/jis/10.1.22
(https://doi.org/10.1093/jis/10.1.22)

Diouf, S. A. (2013). Servants of Allah. ; NYU Press. https://nyupress.org/9781479847112/servants-of-allah/

(https://nyupress.org/9781479847112/servants-of-allah/)

Diouf, S. A. (2017, August 22). Too African to Be Muslim. Process: A Blog for American
History. https://www.processhistory.org/diouf-african-muslim/ (https://www.processhistory.org/diouf-
african-muslim/)

Diouf, S. A. (2019). What Islam Gave the Blues. Renovatio. https://renovatio.zaytuna.edu/article/what-

islam-gave-the-blues (https://renovatio.zaytuna.edu/article/what-islam-gave-the-blues)

DjeDje, J. C. (2008). Fiddling in West Africa : touching the spirit in Fulbe, Hausa, and Dagbamba cultures.
Indiana University Press.

DjeDje, J. C. (2016). The (Mis)Representation of African American Music: The Role of the Fiddle. Journal
of the Society for American Music, 10(1), 1–32. https://doi.org/ (https://doi.org/)10.1017/s1752196315000528
(https://doi.org/10.1017/s1752196315000528)

DjeDje, J. C. (2020). Appalachian Black Fiddling: History and Creativity. African Music : Journal of the
International Library of African Music, 11(2): 76-100. DOI: 10.21504/amj.v11i2.2315
(https://doi.org/10.21504/amj.v11i2.2315).

Einboden, J. (2012). Arabic Slave Writings and the American Canon. Northern Illinois University:
Department of English. https://www.niu.edu/arabic-slave-writings/index.shtml
(https://www.niu.edu/arabic-slave-writings/index.shtml)

Eyre, B. (2007, April 19). Afropop Worldwide | Africa and The Blues: An Interview with Gerhard Kubik.
Afropop Worldwide. https://afropop.org/articles/africa-and-the-blues-an-interview-with-gerhard-kubik
(https://afropop.org/articles/africa-and-the-blues-an-interview-with-gerhard-kubik)

Farmer, H. G. (1924). The Arabic influence on music in the Western Soudan. Including references to modern jazz.
158–159.

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6/25/24, 2:49 PM Islam, Blues, and Black Fiddling – a Bibliography – Mae Mai

Foster, Dan. (2020, April 28). Teodar Jackson – Texas Fiddler. The Field Recorders’ Collective.
https://fieldrecorder.org/teodar-jackson-texas-fiddler/ (https://fieldrecorder.org/teodar-jackson-texas-
fiddler/)

Garnier, D. ‘Jalma. (2007). The Musical and Cultural Roots of Louisiana Creole and Zydeco Fiddle
Traditions. Routes to Roots, Volume
2. http://www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Articles_Essays/creoleroots.html
(http://www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Articles_Essays/creoleroots.html)

Jenoure, T. (2008). The Afro-American Fiddler. Contributions in Black

Studies, 5(1). https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cibs/vol5/iss1/6/
(https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cibs/vol5/iss1/6/).

Jones, Arthur Morris. (1959). Studies in African Music. Volume 1. London: Oxford University Press.

Khan, A. (2019, March 5). New Play “American Griot” Explores Blues Music’s Muslim and African Roots.
Religion News Service. https://religionnews.com/2019/03/05/new-play-american-griot-explores-blues-
musics-muslim-and-african-roots/ (https://religionnews.com/2019/03/05/new-play-american-griot-
explores-blues-musics-muslim-and-african-roots/)

Khan, S. A. (2019, April 11). Muslims Arrived in America 400 Years Ago as Part of the Slave Trade and Today
Are Vastly Diverse. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/muslims-arrived-in-america-400-years-
ago-as-part-of-the-slave-trade-and-today-are-vastly-diverse-113168
(https://theconversation.com/muslims-arrived-in-america-400-years-ago-as-part-of-the-slave-trade-and-
today-are-vastly-diverse-113168)

Kubik, G. (1999). Africa and the Blues. University Press Of Mississippi.

Martinelli, F. (2019). Survivals from Arabic in Blues Texts as Proof of Influence of Islamic Civilizations in
African-American Music. Current Research in Jazz; https://www.crj-online.org/v11/CRJ-
ArabicSurvivals.php (https://www.crj-online.org/v11/CRJ-ArabicSurvivals.php).

McCracken, Peter. (2021, February 26). Crackin’ the Vault Ep. 35: The Gu-Achi Fiddlers, and Manmay
Lakay. [Podcast]. Crackin’ the Vault: An exploration of the Centrum archives.
https://centrum.org/2021/02/crackin-the-vault-ep-35-the-gu-achi-fiddlers-and-manmay-lakay
(https://centrum.org/2021/02/crackin-the-vault-ep-35-the-gu-achi-fiddlers-and-manmay-lakay).

Montes-Bradley, E. (forthcoming documentary). Black Fiddlers: String Band Music in Black America, from
colonial Williamsburg to the Carolina Chocolate Drops. [documentary film]. Kickstarter page:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/borges/black-fiddlers
(https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/borges/black-fiddlers)

Morrison, M. D. (2020, December 28). “And then to consider the ‘run’ in relation to Muslim vocal practices that
many of our ancestors descend from (as I was reminded and talking with @AsiaLeeds about the other
night).” Twitter.com. https://twitter.com/DrMaDMo/status/1343743441726038018
(https://twitter.com/DrMaDMo/status/1343743441726038018)

Nawaz, A., & Nagy, L. (2019, April 23). How the Autobiography of a Muslim Slave Is Challenging an American
Narrative. PBS News Hour. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/show/how-the-autobiography-of-a-
muslim-slave-is-challenging-an-american-narrative (https://www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/show/how-
the-autobiography-of-a-muslim-slave-is-challenging-an-american-narrative)
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6/25/24, 2:49 PM Islam, Blues, and Black Fiddling – a Bibliography – Mae Mai

Rashid, H. (n.d.). Muslim Voices in America: The Making of a Modern Music Scene. Asia Society. Retrieved
September 11, 2020, from https://asiasociety.org/muslim-voices-america-making-modern-music-scene
(https://asiasociety.org/muslim-voices-america-making-modern-music-scene)

Salah, M. (2020a, May 18). Blues and Jazz .. An international music story with Arab and Islamic roots |
tellerreport.com. Www.tellerreport.com. https://www.tellerreport.com/news/2020-05-18-blues-and-jazz—-
an-international-music-story-with-arab-and-islamic-roots.HJgnt24eoI.html
(https://www.tellerreport.com/news/2020-05-18-blues-and-jazz----an-international-music-story-with-
arab-and-islamic-roots.HJgnt24eoI.html)

Salah, M. (2020b, May 18). ‫ قصة موسيقى عالمية ذات جذور عربية وإسالمية‬..‫البلوز والجاز‬. Aljazeera.net; Al
Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.net/news/arts/2020/5/18/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%84%D9%88%
D8%B2-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%82%D8%B5%D8%A9-
%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%82%D9%89-
%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%B0%D8%A7%D8%AA
(https://www.aljazeera.net/news/arts/2020/5/18/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B2-
%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%82%D8%B5%D8%A9-
%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%82%D9%89-
%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%B0%D8%A7%D8%AA)

Salah, M. (2020c, May 19). CEAAT Arabistas Iberoamérica Prof.Tadmy.

M.facebook.com. https://www.facebook.com/ceaat.arabistas/photos/a.117161466328452/267229711321626
/ (https://www.facebook.com/ceaat.arabistas/photos/a.117161466328452/267229711321626/)

Shibli, F. E. (2007). Islam and the Blues. Souls, 9(2), 162–170. https://doi.org/
(https://doi.org/)10.1080/10999940701382615 (https://doi.org/10.1080/10999940701382615)

Silpayamanant, J. (2020a, September 11). When I first heard about Rhiannon Giddens’ opera about Omar Ibn
Said…[thread]. Threadreaderapp.com. https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1304338377827852288.html
(https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1304338377827852288.html)

Silpayamanant, J. (2020b, October 31). This paragraph in Dr. DjeDje’s interview says so much, and am really
looking forward to her book African American fiddling!…[thread].
Threadreaderapp.com. https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1322359299230846976.html
(https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1322359299230846976.html)

Silpayamanant, J. (2020c, November 10). Re-reading this and thinking about it in light of Dr. Jacqueline C.
DjeDje’s work researching the little known African American Fiddling traditions and all the early Blues violinist
recordings that we have…[thread].
Threadreaderapp.com. https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1326130875877224448.html
(https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1326130875877224448.html)

Silpayamanant, J. (2020d, November 10). Islam, African American Fiddling, and the Blues, MyBib.
https://www.mybib.com/b/w8WADB (https://www.mybib.com/b/w8WADB)

Silpayamanant, J. (2021a, February 7). One of the things I’m learning while working on this Arabic
#MusicTheory Bibliography (650-1650) project is how Anti-Blackness is a feature of Western Music Theory
[thread]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/Silpayamanant/status/1358553291962089477
(https://twitter.com/Silpayamanant/status/1358553291962089477)

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6/25/24, 2:49 PM Islam, Blues, and Black Fiddling – a Bibliography – Mae Mai

Silpayamanant, J. (2021b, March 8). …a number of ethnomusicologists & historians have made the connection
between Islamic music/vocalization/string playing & the Blues [thread].
Twitter. https://twitter.com/Silpayamanant/status/1369045688022106113
(https://twitter.com/Silpayamanant/status/1369045688022106113)

Spitzer, N. (1999, December 28). Violin Sing the Blues for Me: African-American Fiddlers 1926-1949.
NPR.org. https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1068455
(https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1068455)

Spoleto Festival USA. (2019a, July 30). Making an Opera: Who Was Omar Ibn
Said? Spoletousa.org. https://spoletousa.org/blog/about-the-opera-who-was-omar-ibn-said/
(https://spoletousa.org/blog/about-the-opera-who-was-omar-ibn-said/)

Spoleto Festival USA. (2019b, August 26). Making an Opera: Meet the Co-Composer, Michael Abels.
Spoletousa.org. https://spoletousa.org/blog/making-an-opera-meet-the-co-composer-michael-abels/
(https://spoletousa.org/blog/making-an-opera-meet-the-co-composer-michael-abels/)

Thomas, P. (1993). Islam’s contribution to Jazz and Improvised musics. Rubberneck, 15, 8–15.

Thompson, Suzy. (2021, December 6). Teodar Jackson African-American Fiddling from Texas. [Online].
The Old Time Herald. https://www.oldtimeherald.org/2021/12/african-american-fiddling-from-texas-
teodar-jackson/ (https://www.oldtimeherald.org/2021/12/african-american-fiddling-from-texas-teodar-
jackson/)

Truelsen, K. (2018, February 27). Pick 5: Black Fiddle Traditions in Early Commercial Country Music.
Birthplace of Country Music. https://www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/pick-5-black-fiddle-traditions-
early-commercial-country-music/ (https://www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/pick-5-black-fiddle-
traditions-early-commercial-country-music/)

Van Der Merwe, Peter. (1992, August 27). Origins of the Popular Style: The Antecedents of Twentieth-
Century Popular Music. Oxford University Press. https://global.oup.com/academic/product/origins-of-
the-popular-style-9780198163053 (https://global.oup.com/academic/product/origins-of-the-popular-style-
9780198163053).

Webb, C. T. (2016, July 9). An Interview with Jacqueline Cogdell DjeDje, Professor Emeritus of Ethnomusicology
at UCLA. Signifying Scriptures. http://www.signifyingscriptures.org/an-interview-with-jacqueline-
cogdell-djedje-professor-emeritus-of-ethnomusicology-at-ucla/ (http://www.signifyingscriptures.org/an-
interview-with-jacqueline-cogdell-djedje-professor-emeritus-of-ethnomusicology-at-ucla/)

Wells, P. F. (2003). Fiddling as an Avenue of Black-White Musical Interchange. Black Music Research
Journal, 23(1/2), 135. https://doi.org/ (https://doi.org/)10.2307/3593212 (https://doi.org/10.2307/3593212)

Wyatt, M. (n.d.). Violin, Sing The Blues For Me: African-American Fiddlers on Early Phonograph Records. Old
Hat Records. Retrieved January 1, 2021, from http://www.oldhatrecords.com/ResearchAAViolin.html
(http://www.oldhatrecords.com/ResearchAAViolin.html)

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