Join us March 28 and 29 for a dialogue between communities of practice and communities of learning--an interface between orality and literacy-- in the context of African music and its research.  

African musical arts on the continent are as vibrant and diverse as the societies and communities whose creativity and performances enliven life in both temporal and non-temporal domains. As a form of communication, African musical arts operate within a larger framework of orality where musical sounds and expressions constitute symbolic and living curricula, which consistently generate knowledge systems about the African worldview. Orality, however, does not imply lack of literacy, as songs, instrumental accompaniment, storytelling, epic poems, instrumental music, and the physical body of musical instruments indexes literacy in subtle and intricate ways. 

 

 

Learn more about the Colloquium

African musical arts on the continent are as vibrant and diverse as the societies and communities whose creativity and performances enliven life in both temporal and non-temporal domains.

Meet the Presenters

This colloquium will bring together artists, historians, musicians and performers from a variety of disciplines from around the world. To see our full line-up, including the Center for the Humanities Coit-Phelps speaker, you can learn more here. 

Visitor Information

This event will take place in the Granoff Music Center at Tufts (20 Talbot Avenue, Medford, MA). We hope to bring together guests from all over the Boston area and the world. If you are new to Tufts, please check in here to learn more about getting to campus.