Expert: Ralph Salier - 5/22/2009

Question
I seem to remember, from an anthro course I took many years ago, reading of a society that didn't have music. I remember being dubious. (The article also said the society didn't have religion, but spoke of a belief in ghosts and spirits.)

I've long forgotten the name of the society or the source of the article.

Any help would be appreciated.

Many thanks,

Steve

Answer
Hi Steve,

I am not aware of any extant societies (living societies) that do NOT have music.  Having a belief system in which ghosts and spirits exist is a religion of sorts so they do have a religion.

I am thinking that the Tasaday peoples of the Philippines may have been the source of this article.  However, there is a lot of controversy about these people.  Some say that it was a hoax others do not.  Personally, this whole affair has a lot of question marks.  But they reportedly did not have music and were very primitive.  Many primitive people have primitive belief systems inhabited by spirits, ghosts and daemons.  

I hope this helps.

Ralph