Music Scholars Lecture Series Talk with Dean Stephanie Shonekan
Music Scholars Lecture Series Talk with Dean Stephanie Shonekan
“Remain in Light: A Comparative Analysis of the albums of Talking Heads and Angelique Kidjo”
In 2018, Angelique Kidjo reinterpreted Talking Heads’ 1980 album, Remain in Light. Both Talking Heads and Kidjo were deeply influenced by the musical framework and intensity of Nigerian afrobeat musician Fela Anikulapo Kuti. While the two albums raise questions of interpretation and appropriation, they also invite an exploration of how the identities and socio-cultural contexts of the band from New York City and the African woman from the Republic of Benin produce different meanings across their respective albums. Tracing the cyclic story of this album – from Africa to the world and back to Africa – this presentation will explore the two albums, the musical choices and cultural circumstances that make them distinct, and ultimately the connections of these unique artists to the legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
“Remain in Light: A Comparative Analysis of the albums of Talking Heads and Angelique Kidjo”
In 2018, Angelique Kidjo reinterpreted Talking Heads’ 1980 album, Remain in Light. Both Talking Heads and Kidjo were deeply influenced by the musical framework and intensity of Nigerian afrobeat musician Fela Anikulapo Kuti. While the two albums raise questions of interpretation and appropriation, they also invite an exploration of how the identities and socio-cultural contexts of the band from New York City and the African woman from the Republic of Benin produce different meanings across their respective albums. Tracing the cyclic story of this album – from Africa to the world and back to Africa – this presentation will explore the two albums, the musical choices and cultural circumstances that make them distinct, and ultimately the connections of these unique artists to the legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti.