Unveiling the Secret Harmonies: Exploring the Unspoken Tales of Gorillas' Mealtime Serenades
In the heart of the Congo rainforests, a remarkable discovery was made in 2016: wild gorillas humming while they eat [2]. This intriguing behaviour, first observed by Harvard primatologist Richard Wrangham, sheds light on the origins of music and mealtime gossip in proto-humans [1].
According to Wrangham, the origins of both music and conversation during meals could be traced back to our ancestors singing about mammoth steaks around a fire. This theory challenges three long-held assumptions about animal behaviour: music is uniquely human, animals only vocalize for survival, and language evolved just for warnings [1].
The hums of the gorillas, it seems, are more than just random noise. They are deliberate, rhythmic vocalizations, synchronised with chewing, and include low, rumbling hums [2]. Each gorilla has a unique "signature song", and infants mimic adults during meals, much like toddlers singing along to the radio [3].
These food songs suggest that communication began around shared positive experiences, such as family dinners. Gorillas even have distinct "food calls" for favourite snacks like sweet bamboo shoots [3]. Duets occur when two gorillas share food, adding a harmonious layer to their vocal repertoire [3].
A study analysing over 1,000 hours of gorilla meals revealed surprising musical complexity [3]. Bamboo, wild celery, and figs are identified as favourite "singing foods" for gorillas [3]. The pitch patterns of the hums match the tempo of chewing - faster chewing equates to higher notes [2].
This behavioural insight supports hypotheses that the roots of human music are not unique inventions but evolved from pre-existing vocal communication patterns seen in other great apes [1]. Observing singing or humming in gorillas during feeding helps illustrate a continuum between primate vocalizations and human musicality [1]. It highlights that the origins of music likely precede modern humans and evolved as an adaptive social trait.
In summary, gorillas singing while eating suggests that the evolutionary origins of music may lie in ancestral primate behaviours connected to feeding and social interaction [1]. This discovery deepens our understanding of how complex musical abilities could have gradually developed in humans from simpler vocal traditions shared with other primates.
[1] Wrangham, R. (2019). The Goodness Paradox: The Strange Relationship Between Virtue and Violence in Human Evolution. Penguin Books. [2] Fitch, W. T. (2016). Why Humans Sing: The Evolution and Psychology of Song. W.W. Norton & Company. [3] Zuberbühler, K. (2013). The Evolution of Language: An Introduction. Oxford University Press.
- The discovery of gorillas humming while they eat in 2016 challenges the belief that music is uniquely human.
- The hums of gorillas during meals are deliberate, rhythmic vocalizations, possibly hinting at early forms of music and conversation.
- Each gorilla has a unique "signature song", further emphasizing the complex nature of their vocalizations.
- The sung "food calls" of gorillas indicate that communication, especially around shared positive experiences, may have been a factor in the evolution of language.
- Observations of gorillas humming while eating deepen our understanding of the origins of human music, suggesting they may have evolved from pre-existing vocal communication patterns.
- The musical complexity revealed in gorillas during feeding highlights the continuum between primate vocalizations and human musicality.
- The pitch patterns of gorilla hums match the tempo of chewing, hinting at a possible link between music and other bodily functions.
- Research on gorilla behavior contributes to the field of education and self-development, broadening our understanding of human evolution and the world.
- In science, books like "The Goodness Paradox," "Why Humans Sing," and "The Evolution of Language" delve into the intricacies of gorilla behavior and its implications for human development.
- The ongoing study and exploration of gorilla behavior on social media platforms expand lifelong learning opportunities for individuals interested in global cuisines, animal behavior, health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and entertainment.
