Mande Music and the Black Experience: Oral History, Folklore and Contemporary Connections

Catalog description

How do stories, songs, and proverbs serve as vessels for cultural identity, communal values, and historical memory? In many West African societies, griots (also called jalis) serve as oral custodians and historians. What are the responsibilities of these historians, storytellers, singers, poets, dancers and musicians in preserving and transmitting traditions in Mande society? How are their diverse and important roles mirrored in African diasporic cultures worldwide today? How did those hereditary skills serve the descendants of these communities facing oppression and erasure of culture and language? This experiential seminar offers students an in-depth exploration of Mande music and its integral role in shaping the Black experience today. Guided by Yahael Camara Onono, bandleader of the acclaimed Balimaya Project, and his team of expert musicians and dancers, students will immerse themselves in the rich traditions of Mande oral history, folklore, and contemporary performance practice through engaging in singing, dance, and music workshops, attending musical performances, and visiting local Mande communities and cultural hotspots in the UAE. As a result, students will emerge with a rich understanding of the enduring legacy of Mande music and its vital role in shaping cultural identities worldwide. This course will be offered in January-Term 2026.