Conference Agenda

In African Music, one of the many ways of thinking about what we hear is by untying the layers that make and influence sound. Is it possible, for instance, to have a music genre devoid of any influence from other genres? The lines between popular, art, and traditional music have crossed in different ways, giving rise to new music genres and new ways of listening, performing, recording, evaluating, and theorizing music. In this roundtable, six participants with distinct research interests in African music will engage in an in-depth critical discourse on how these three kinds of music intersect on the page, stage, and studio recording practices. With practical examples of ancient, contemporary, and historic sounds emanating from the continent of Africa, each participant in the roundtable, in addition to the audience, will bring their distinct scholarly perspectives to the discourse. Discussants' contributions include critical topics on Afrobeat(s), African Pianism, Jazz, Choral music, performance cultures, and the use of instruments across genres. The purpose and significance of this roundtable is, among others, to examine these three kinds of African music in their historical and contemporary contexts in order to appreciate the sonic qualities and nature of music performed within and outside of the African continent.