Fortress Dwellers, Bagpipes, and Race
There’s a wonderful group of musicians/Renaissance Faire performers called the “Fortress Dwellers.” They are unique to the faire circuit, in that they are an all black group. Their instrumentation is diverse, includes bagpipes, and they are talented, energetic and fun. Their commitment to their individual personas is as engaging as their vibrant music.
They have been largely embraced by those in the Faire circuit, but there’s always some racist troglodytes who come out of the woodwork to pee on the parade. In addition, some have pointedly brought out claims of “cultural appropriation” for their use of bagpipes, as if that was some sort of “gotchya” in response to the reality of systemic racism in Western society, embedded in our laws and institutions.
So for those who think that the pipes belong only to us white folks (Celts, in particular), here’s a little bit of history I found when doing genealogical research about my own ancestral roots.
First off, many ancient civilizations developed some sort of pipes. No single culture can lay claim to all pipes.
Variations of bagpipes (“the pipes”) have been found worldwide and were developed independently in many regions, with first origins as early as 1000 B.C., details of which are somewhat murky; historians and archaeologists believe early development may have been in Sumeria or Mesopotamia. Some depictions of what appear to be pipes have also been found on sculpted slabs in ancient Hittite ruins — but there is debate on whether the depiction is actually pipes, or a sort of pan flute with a drum.
Around 400 B.C. pipes were found in Egypt and then in Greece during Nero’s reign (37-68 CE).
The Roman legions that invaded a multitude of regions, including Britain, brought several versions of pipes with them that seem to have led to development of the uilleann pipes (Irish) and the musette de cour (French).
The pipes were even expressly mentioned in Chaucer’s 1380 collection of stories, “The Canterbury Tales.”
The Great Highland Bagpipes, however — the ones which Scottish historian, George Buchanan, said replaced the trumpet on the battlefield — differ from all the others and is uniquely Scottish — it has a specific drone configuration which other cultures’ pipes lack, and is why these pipes, the kind which the Fortress Dwellers use, are associated with Scotland.
As for the racists claiming that the Fortress Dwellers have “no right” to present themselves as knights or royal princes (or whatever high-station Faire persona they wish to adopt), because “knights were all white,” they might want to crack open a history book or two…
Saint Maurice, a 3rd century Christian martyr, and leader of the Theban Legion, was a black African knight who, after his death, the Catholic Church elevated to the station of patron saint of soldiers.
In Italy, a black man, Raymond of Campania, rose in influence and rank, becoming a landowner and had knighthood bestowed on him.
Europeans during their trade travels interacted with Moors (Saracens) and African soldiers and royalty in integrated cultures.
And in the Arthurian legends, Sir Morien from Africa is referred to as the “black knight" who came to Arthur’s Court searching for his father.
The ignorance is depressing; the racism infuriating.
Do better, my pasty-faced Euro stock brethren.
Huzzah, Fortress Dwellers!
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