RHYTHM OF CHANGE
  • Home
  • The Coextensive Moment
    • About the Class
  • Immersion
    • Sams'K Le Jah
    • Muna Munday
    • Amical Blues
  • Classroom Playlist
  • Student Production
    • Yolaine Mfinyom
    • Hunter Skidmore
    • Sarah Robinson
    • Justice Simonetti
    • Emily Schafer
    • Cate Paxton
    • Kelly Perry
    • Radha Sathanayagam
    • Trey McAdams
    • Carissa Bell
    • Chloe Neu
    • Grace Williams

This class focusses on relationships between music and politics in sub-Saharan Africa with an emphasis on the following question: How does music reflect and drive political change in Africa? The course synergizes popular music with modern African musical styles and centers around four political themes: (1) nationalism and identity, (2) dictatorship and democracy, (3) violent conflict and genocide and (4) globalization.

Topics in the course include: 
Nationalism & Identity
  • Formation and Politicization of Identity
  • Nationalism and Nation-Building in Africa; legacies of colonialism
  • National Anthems
  • Tanzania: Umoja in a Divided Union
  • South Africa: Coloring the Rainbow Nation ​
Dictatorship and Democracy
  • Post-Colonial non-democratic rule
  • Politicization of popular music for election campaigns
  • Protest music under dictatorship
  • ​Griots, Jali's, ​Wagogo, and Mlimani Park Orchestra
Violent Conflict & Genocide
  • Civil War in Africa
  • The role of radio and music in propelling mass violence
  • Music in conflict transformation 
  • Inanga, Simon Bikindi, and music before, during and after the Rwandan Genocide
Globalization
  • Intersection of religion, terrorism, and music 
  • Representations of Africa in Western music
  • Making music where it is banned: Somalia and Mali
  • Breaking the apartheid boycott: Paul Simon's controversial "Graceland"
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  • Home
  • The Coextensive Moment
    • About the Class
  • Immersion
    • Sams'K Le Jah
    • Muna Munday
    • Amical Blues
  • Classroom Playlist
  • Student Production
    • Yolaine Mfinyom
    • Hunter Skidmore
    • Sarah Robinson
    • Justice Simonetti
    • Emily Schafer
    • Cate Paxton
    • Kelly Perry
    • Radha Sathanayagam
    • Trey McAdams
    • Carissa Bell
    • Chloe Neu
    • Grace Williams