Online honors for Professor Jacqueline Cogdell DjeDje through an online oral history event
On Friday, January 11, 2019, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) will host a symposium and concert to celebrate the re-opening of the UCLA Ethnomusicology Archive. The special event will honour Jacqueline Cogdell DjeDje, Professor Emerita, who served as Director of the Archive from 2000 to 2007.
The event's theme is "Documenting the Sounds of Africa: Archiving, Instruments, and Researching the Local." It will take place from 8 am to 7 pm, offering an opportunity for scholars, musicians, and music enthusiasts to delve into the rich world of African music and culture.
At the heart of the event is an oral history of Professor DjeDje, which can be found on the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research website. The oral history provides a fascinating insight into the life and career of this esteemed scholar.
Born in Jesup, Georgia, DjeDje received a B.A. in music from Fisk University, specialising in piano. Her early musical influences are detailed in the oral history, which also reveals how she developed a passion for ethnomusicology and African music.
The oral history covers various aspects of DjeDje's life, including her childhood, her education, and her professional career. It discusses her early mentors, who introduced her to ethnomusicology and influenced her to attend UCLA for graduate school. The influence of music department faculty members Peter Crossley Holland, David Morton, Mantle Hood, and J. H. Kwabena Nketia on DjeDje's career is also highlighted.
DjeDje's professional career at UCLA spanned over three decades, from 1979 to 2013, where she worked in both the Department of Music and the Department of Ethnomusicology. The oral history provides a comprehensive account of her contributions during this period.
The oral history also includes DjeDje's response to 1960s protests at Fisk University, offering a glimpse into her activism and commitment to social justice. A table of contents, DjeDje's curriculum vitae, and a biographical summary are also included in the oral history, making it a comprehensive resource for those interested in learning more about her life and career.
In addition to the oral history, the symposium and concert will feature presentations, performances, and discussions, offering a unique opportunity to engage with the rich and diverse world of African music and culture. It promises to be an exciting and enlightening event, and a fitting tribute to a scholar whose work has made a significant impact in the field of ethnomusicology.
[1] For detailed information about DjeDje's career trajectory, scholarly contributions, or mentorship, you might consider checking academic profiles on university websites where she has worked, or published interviews and biographies in academic journals related to African Studies and linguistics.
