African American Women Play Musical Instruments: Webpages and More: African American Women Instrumentalists

This year we furthered our research to name 130 Black women guitarists because we believe in constantly celebrating Black and Afro-identifying communities around the world—a statement meant to prove the disparity between the history we’re told and the history that exists.

This archival project focuses on the histories of African-American female instrumentalists from the late nineteenth century through today.

Women innovators of African-American music evolved along two lines, one vocal and the other instrumental.

It’s no secret that women and all those who identify as such are among the underrepresented minorities (particularly on the classical side), but Black female players in the brass world continue to be a rare sight, even when compared to their Black male colleagues.

Fabi Reyna, founder of Sheshreds Media, highlights artists often left out of history books in her article 7 Guitarists That Prove Black Women Were Pioneers In Music History.

The shifting roles for women in Senegal. This paper looks at changing gender roles in traditional sabar drumming performances.

These bands were the centerpiece for parades, military events, and circuses. Even companies created bands as a type of workplace community gathering.

The three members of the fast-rising all-Black women musical group The String Queens — Kendall Isadore, Élise Sharp, and Dawn Johnson — have each experienced racism during their musical career. However, they used it as their fuel to serve as an instrument for change and diversity in the field of classical music.

In her forthcoming book, Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop, Danyel Smith writes, "Who else but a Black woman would lead me, or at least take me on trial runs?"

Rhiannon Giddens is joined by Canadian-American musician-songwriter Allison Russell (Po’ Girl, Birds of Chicago), Leyla McCalla (Carolina Chocolate Drops) and Amythyst Kiah (Amythyst Kiah & Her Chest of Glass) for the new album Songs of Our Native Daughters.