Rap, Rai, Rock, and Revolution: The Role of Music in the "Arab Spring"
When:
Tuesday, Jan 28, 2014 3:00p -
5:00p
Tuesday, Jan 28, 2014 3:00p -
5:00p
Where:
MIT Building 3, Room 133
33 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02139
Admission:
FREE
Categories:
Lectures & Conferences, Music, University
Event website:
http://events.mit.edu/event.html?id=15012865&date=2014/1/28
The Arab Spring is the term given to the wave of demonstrations and protests that began in Tunisia in December 2010. To date this massive wave of popular protests has toppled authoritarian regimes in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen. There have also been significant demonstrations in other countries, some of which have led to meaningful reforms, while others have led to civil war and strife. In such times of crisis, music can be particularly important as a tool of communication and education that builds community, boosts morale, and rallies people to the cause. One thing is clear, this is a revolutionary moment, and every revolution comes with a soundtrack.
The still evolving soundtrack of the Arab Spring is a fascinating blend of local and international influences ranging from classical Chaabi music from North Africa to the electronic sounds of Rap. Genres that have largely been robbed of their subversive power by the commercial music industry in the West, still pack a radical punch on the streets of the Middle East and North Africa. Performers have been beaten, jailed, and even killed as part of government efforts to suppress popular uprisings. This program will dive into the music of the Arab Spring and its antecedents through audio, video, texts, and multimedia resources.
Come discover the musicians that emerged as heroes of these protest movements and join a discussion of what the future might hold, given the rapid political and social changes in the region.
Open to: the general public. Sponsored by the MIT Libraries.
Pictured: Singer/songwriter Cheb Khaled, nicknamed "King of Rai"
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