MUS 205 - African Music

4 credits (Fall)

Music in Africa shapes political life, religious piety, social understanding, and connects communities on the continent with the rest of the world through complex histories of interaction tied to slavery, colonialism, and post-colonial engagement. This class introduces students to a diverse range of African musical practices from combined ethnomusicological and anthropological perspectives and contextualizes these practices within global political, spiritual, historical, and social contexts. We explore race, colonial history, African modernity, and expressive community through Africa’s musical diversity.

Prerequisite: None.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Perman