Introduction to African Music

In this course, we will examine case studies of musical cultures from the African continent, emphasizing their cultural and social relevance within Africa and its diaspora. The objective of this course is to become familiar with the diversity of African cultures through their musical practices. We will accomplish this objective through reading and discussing current research on African music, viewing and studying documentaries and video recordings of African musical performances, listening to and analyzing audio recordings of African music, and taking part in hands-on activities.