Violinist or violist of African descent – WHAT HAPPENED?
According to Thomas Jefferson in 1781: “The instrument proper to them (i.e. the slaves) is the Banjar, which they brought hither from Africa.” The 1984 television film Solomon Northup’s Odyssey and the 2013 feature film 12 Years a Slave are based on the memoir of violinist Solomon Northrup. Living & working violist Nokuthula Ngwenyama…