The Uniqueness of Utility and Production Functions of African Music: Implications for African Non-Music Industries

Voxi Heinrich Amavilah

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: I struggle with a simple question, but one that may have liberating implications. The question is: How has African music been a nearly 'imperialistic' force on the global scale whereas African non-music goods and services, besides raw materials and slaves, have had limiting effects? The answer is not in the sophistication of inputs; African traditional musical instruments are basic, requiring low capital investment. The difference is in music consumption (utility) and production (profit/surplus) functions. The utility function is endogenous, deriving its value from local social demand that always exists irrespective of the product price of the music itself. The production function is characterized at least in part by (im)pulses that may or may not share the same properties with ordinary functions generally used to describe production activities. The unique functions guarantee that African music will always be globally influential. African nonmusic industries may want to imitate African music industries as their attempts to copy functions that have led to success in countries outside Africa have put them at a huge disadvantage.

Keywords: Unique utility function; unique production function; music consumption; music production/making; constrained social welfare; endogenous consumption and production; Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 D69 O55 Z1 Z11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-08-10
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