An extraordinary diversity of cultural and musical expression exists
in Africa. This course will survey that diversity, focusing on ways
Africans create, perform, think about and use music in their lives.

We will study select regional styles of music in Africa while
attending to translocal, transnational, and global cultural and
musical exchanges in which Africans participate. We will explore
traditional and popular musics in relationship to social and
historical contexts, music’s profound interlinkages with other arts,
performers’ roles, musical instruments, aesthetics, music and
politics, music and religion, music and identity, and other issues
central to the scholarship of music in Africa.   Students will be
required to complete a midterm exam that includes listening and
essay questions, as well as a paper on a topic to be chosen in
consultation with the instructor.

Fulfills COLL Arts & Humanities, CSA