Music and Africa and Black Diaspora

This programme offers students a broad interdisciplinary foundation to the study of Africa and the Black Diaspora. The programme will also enable students to situate and engage with Africa in the global stage by acquiring substantive knowledge of historical and topical issues that are related to the continent.

Students will gain critical insight into the history, politics, anthropology, economy, development, languages and cultures of Africa and the Black Diaspora. Students will also get the opportunity to engage with their own understanding of contemporary themes including Migration, Colonialism, economic change, climate change and popular culture.

The BA Music (combined degree) programme is a unique opportunity to study the musical traditions of Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and their global diasporas. Students are taught the basic principles of ethnomusicology and survey a variety of Asian and African musics. In years 2 and 3 they are encouraged to focus on the music of specific regions and to consider cross-regional themes. Performance is a central component of the degree. Students have the opportunity to develop expertise in a great variety of musical performance traditions.