Autoethnography and participant-observation in a cross-cultural artistic research

Abstract

Autoethnography and participant-observation were at the heart of this artistic research project of re-inventing new marimba performance by investigating the West African balafon music practice of the Bobo and Bamana tribes. The adventures of diving into the balafon world were led by participant-observation research design, and these experiences have remolded my selfunderstanding of being a musician as well as a person. The autoethnography is a result of operating a reflective model of “I”, in which the artist-researcher has changed from the stage of exploration to recognition to interpretation. Participant-observation is the tool that helps us to submit to and engage with foreign music practice, and our main task is to render the ineffable experience of performing the music and switching between cultures. We do not necessarily become an African musician and assimilate into their tradition, but one shall try to gain head-on experience through participating in the music culture.