Watch Give Me the Banjo

Give Me the Banjo is a documentary film that explores the history and cultural significance of the banjo. Directed by Marc Fields, the film features interviews with musicians, historians, and scholars, as well as archival footage and performances. The film begins by tracing the banjo's origins to West Africa, where a similar instrument called the akonting was played by the griots, or storytellers. The banjo was brought to America by African slaves, and it quickly became popular among both white and black musicians in the antebellum South.

The film then moves through the 20th century, showcasing the ways in which the banjo has been used in different genres of music, from old-time string bands to blues to bluegrass to jazz. The film highlights the contributions of key musicians such as Earl Scruggs, Pete Seeger, and Bela Fleck, who have pushed the boundaries of what the banjo can do and what kinds of music it can be used for.

Throughout the film, there is a focus on the ways in which the banjo has been seen as both a symbol of racial harmony and a symbol of racial tension. The banjo was embraced by white musicians such as Stephen Foster, who wrote songs like "Oh! Susanna" that helped popularize it in the mid-19th century. But the banjo was also used to stereotype and denigrate black people in minstrel shows, which portrayed African American culture in a highly distorted and racist manner.

The film acknowledges this troubled history but also celebrates the ways in which the banjo has been reclaimed by African American musicians in recent years. Interviews with artists such as Rhiannon Giddens and Otis Taylor emphasize the banjo's roots in black culture and highlight the important contributions of black banjo players throughout history.

The film also showcases the international reach of the banjo, with segments on its use in Irish traditional music and its popularity in Japan.

Overall, Give Me the Banjo is a comprehensive and engaging documentary that offers a richly textured portrait of an instrument that has played a central role in American music for over a century. With its mix of history, commentary, and performance, the film offers something for both banjo enthusiasts and general audiences alike.

Give Me the Banjo is a 2011 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 23 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3.