Musiques des Aka de Centrafrique

La richesse de la tradition orale des Aka lui a valu d'être inscrite sur la Liste représentative du Patrimoine immatériel de l'Unesco. Si les Aka se distinguent des autres sociétés centrafricaines par une pratique sophistiquée de la polyphonie, leur monde musical inclut également d'autres expressions vocales et instrumentales. Toutes sont solidement enracinées dans des pratiques sociales et religieuses qui rappellent que la musique n'est pas seulement un divertissement, mais également le ciment des relations que les humains entretiennent entre eux et avec des entités non humaines.Ce talk explorera l'ensemble de ces aspects musicaux et symboliques.

Susanne Fürniss est ethnomusicologue au CNRS, Paris. Ses recherches sur les musiques dites « pygmées » en Centrafrique et au Cameroun concernent la grammaire musicale et le lien entre musique, religion et institutions sociales. Ses travaux actuels relèvent de l'ethnomusicologie historique d'autres cultures musicales du Cameroun et du Gabon.

Légende de la photo: "Tinakoka joue l'arc à deux cordes des femmes aka © S. Fürniss"

Aka Musics in Central African Republic

The richness of Aka's oral tradition has earned them a place on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. While the Aka are distinguished from other Central African societies by their sophisticated use of polyphony, their musical world also includes other vocal and instrumental expressions. All of them are firmly rooted in social and religious practices that remind us that music is not just entertainment, but also the glue that binds human beings to each other and to non-human entities. This talk will explore all these musical and symbolic aspects.

Susanne Fürniss is an ethnomusicologist at the CNRS, Paris. Her research on so-called "Pygmy" music in Central Africa and Cameroon focuses on musical grammar and the relationship between music, religion and social institutions. His current work focuses on the historical ethnomusicology of other musical cultures in Cameroon and Gabon.

Photo caption: "Tinakoka plays the Aka women's two-string bow © S. Fürniss".

This seminar will examine the sociology of art within the context of Moroccan Jews. Our research aims to understand the cultural and social dynamics surrounding the artistic practices of Moroccan Jews and their contribution to fostering coexistence between Muslims and Jews. Through critical analysis, we will explore the historical, social, and cultural factors that have shaped the art of Moroccan Jews and its role in cultural preservation and communal cohesion. We will investigate how art and particularly music has facilitated dialogue, empathy, and understanding between the two communities, contributing to interfaith relations and shared cultural heritage. Our research focuses mainly on chgouri and ‘aita repertoires, but examples will be taken in other genres as well. By embracing a perspective focusing on sociology of art, we seek to contribute to ongoing discourse, research, and collaboration promoting mutual respect and understanding.

Mohammed Elaloui is a PhD researcher at the University of Hassan II in Casablanca, affiliated with the Faculty of Mohammadia (Socio-Anthropology of Art and Music). His ethnomusicological research focuses on Jewish Moroccan music, aiming to unravel the cultural nuances of this distinctive musical tradition. His work contributes to understanding Moroccan Jewish heritage, highlighting the significant role of music in cultural preservation and fostering interfaith dialogue.