In 1988, a radio series called Public Radio International (PRI) coined the term “Afropop” to refer to a cross section of traditional and urban music styles that originated or had roots in Africa. At their recital On 30 March 2019, the Pitt Afropop Ensemble will perform Afropop music that has either been influenced or has influenced other music styles from the Americas and Europe. The performance on March 30 will have the Pitt Afropop ensemble students expose Afro-reggae, highlife, Afrobeat and Afro-jazz, genres that have resulted from the fusion of African and Western musics. The performance will specifically focus on exposing what I refer to as sonic migrations between Africa, Latin America, Europe and the Caribbean. “Sonic Migrations” is an exploration of how sound has traveled from Africa to other locations of the world and back to Africa. The event will expose connections between rumba of Cuba and soukous from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Jamaican reggae and Afro-reggae.

Dr. David Aarons, assistant professor at the University of North Carolina, will give a talk on the connections between Jamaican reggae and Afro-reggae. Dr. Aarons has studied the migrations of Jamaican people and their music to Ethiopia. He joined the faculty at UNCG in 2018 and currently teaches such courses as “American Music” and “Music of World Cultures”.

Admission:
Tickets are available through the University of Pittsburgh Stages Box Office, by calling 412-624-7529, or visiting music.pitt.edu/tickets. Tickets in advance: general admission is $8.50; non-Pitt students and seniors are $5. At the door: general admission is $12; non-Pitt students and seniors are $8. Pitt students: free with valid ID.