Folk Music by Olivia Tomlinson

Folk music was originally created by African Americans, despite the stereotypical ties it has to whites/rednecks.  It was created as a way to communicate within the enslaved community and to uplift one another while working.  Many other genres can trace their musical history back to folk music, including jazz, hip-hop, and reggae (because they talk about working through the struggle). Folk music is played from basically any instrument that you can find, even if that means creating your own.  The djembe and banjo are traditional instruments that are used but household objects, like washboards, are also a substitute.