Umoja

AMKA is UMOJA’s annual conference, during which themes related to the African Continent are explored for the benefit of the students, faculty at Middlebury, and other neighbouring colleges and universities.

Let us explore and embrace what Africa has to offer for itself, the diaspora and the world. Western measurements of education have become the only standard and we hope to shift the attention with this year’s AMKA. We hope to bring to light rich, traditional knowledge whether it be scientific, natural, societal or spiritual that is alive in the continent and has spread through the diaspora. This knowledge may come in practices, stories, traditions, and so on. The lessons are rich and can greatly benefit us all in meaningful ways.

Let us explore and embrace what Africa has to offer for itself, the diaspora and the world. Western measurements of education have become the only standard and we hope to shift the attention with this year’s AMKA. We hope to bring to light rich, traditional knowledge whether it be scientific, natural, societal or spiritual that is alive in the continent and has spread through the diaspora. This knowledge may come in practices, stories, traditions, and so on. The lessons are rich and can greatly benefit us all in meaningful ways.

Let us explore and embrace what Africa has to offer for itself, the diaspora and the world. Western measurements of education have become the only standard and we hope to shift the attention with this year’s AMKA. We hope to bring to light rich, traditional knowledge whether it be scientific, natural, societal or spiritual that is alive in the continent and has spread through the diaspora. This knowledge may come in practices, stories, traditions, and so on. The lessons are rich and can greatly benefit us all in meaningful ways.

This concert opens with the Middlebury African Music and Dance Ensemble performing repertoire that showcases the stylistic and instrumental diversity of traditional East African musical cultures. In the second half of the concert, the Middlebury Afropop Band performs original compositions and arrangements of classic and contemporary popular songs from all over Africa. The band uses pop and rock instrumentation as well as styles that blend traditional African with Western and/or Afro-diasporic musical idioms.

This concert opens with the Middlebury African Music and Dance Ensemble performing repertoire that showcases the stylistic and instrumental diversity of traditional East African musical cultures. In the second half of the concert, the Middlebury Afropop Band performs original compositions and arrangements of classic and contemporary popular songs from all over Africa. The band uses pop and rock instrumentation as well as styles that blend traditional African with Western and/or Afro-diasporic musical idioms.