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| Dr. James K. Makubuya, Ph.D.
(Ethnomusicology) 'SACSOFI' is my official logo for
this personal website. |
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My website is one of several fora I use to share my past,
present, and on-going analytical study of the
significant role folk instruments play in folk societies.
Reflecting current fields of study in organology,
I use this website to record my explorations of the extent to which --
beyond musical sounds -- shapes, decorations, and iconography of musical
instruments are symbolic of the folk cultures from which they originate
and, consequently, represent.
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JAMES MAKUBUYA
James K. Makubuya was born and brought up in the culture of the Baganda, in the East African nation of Uganda. He graduated with a B.A. in Music & English Literature (Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda), a Master of Music degree in Western Music (Catholic University of America, Washington D.C., USA), and a Ph.D., in Ethnomusicology (University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA). He is currently an Associate Professor of Music, Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana (USA).
By profession,
James Makubuya is a teacher, and a performing musician,
actively engaged in ethnomusicological research.
An active member of the Africa Network, the Galpin Society, the International Council for Traditional Music, and Society for Ethnomusicology, his research focuses on the organological studies of East Africa. With the endongo (8-string bowl lyre) as his main instrument, James is a proficient performer on several instruments, including the endingidi (1-string tube fiddle), adungu (9-string bow harp), amadinda (12-slab log xylophone), akogo (thumb piano) and engoma (drums). He is also an accomplished dancer and choreographer, having studied with several master musicians and dancers from various East African musical traditions.
James has traveled to various cities of Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe, North and South America, presenting research papers, guest lectures, lecture demonstrations, workshops, and concert performances at (i) conferences, colloquia, and seminars, (ii) academic and cultural institutions, (iii) archives and museums, (iv) folk and culture festival events. His most recent solo performances include Carnegie Hall, New York City, USA, London Trinity College of Music, London, U.K., the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, New York, USA.
As a recording artist, James has been a featured musician in the movie Mississipi Masala, and several television movies and documentaries including: Simba: the King of the Jungle; Sherlock Holmes; The African Skies; The African Thunderstorm; and The Jungle Choir. Following his first audio recording, The Uganda Tropical Beat I (1993), James has released three other CDs, Taata Wange (1998), Watik, Watik: Music from Uganda (2000), and Wu Man and Friends (2005) which was jointly produced with Wu Man, a Chinese virtuoso pipa player, together with two other virtuoso musicians including, Lee Knight, an Appalachian banjo, dulcimer, and mouth bow player, and Julian Kytasy that plays the Ukranian bandura and sopilka.
James is the founder and artistic director of WAMIDAN, the Wabash College World Music performance ensemble, for those interested in exploring the artistic and scientific myths and mysteries of folk music and dances.
CURRICULUM VITAE
James K. Makubuya
Associate Professor of Music
Music Department, Wabash College
P.O. Box 352
Crawfordsville, IN 47933, USA
makubuya@wabash.edu
Tel. 765 361 6474 (office)
EDUCATION
University of California, Los Angeles, CA. Ph.D.
(Ethnomusicology), 1995
Catholic University of America, Washington, DC. M. Mus.
(Western Music / Music Education), 1988
Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. B.A. (Music, English
Literature), 1980
DOCTORAL THESIS
“Endongo: The Role and Significance of the Baganda Bowl
Lyre of Uganda.”
PERFORMANCE TRAINING IN WORLD MUSIC.
- A. INSTRUMENTAL AND VOCAL MUSIC:
Akogo (thumb piano) of the Teso Culture, Uganda
Adungu (9-string arched harp) of the Alur Culture, Uganda
Madinda (12-slab log xylophone) of the Baganda Culture, Uganda
Endingidi (1-string tube fiddle) of the Baganda Culture, Uganda
Endongo (8-string bowl lyre) of the Baganda Culture, Uganda
Entongooli (8-string bowl lyre) of the Basoga Culture, Uganda
Obokano (8-string bowl lyre) of the Gusii Culture, Kenya
Isikuti (3-drum set) drumming technique of the Baluhya Culture, Kenya
Traditional drumming techniques of multiple ethnic cultures of Uganda
Mandinka djembe drumming of Senegal, West Africa
Ewe drumming of Ghana, West Africa
Javanese Gamelan of Indonesia
- B. FOLK/TRADITIONAL DANCING:
Traditional folk dancing and choreography from various East African musical cultures and traditions including the Ganda, Alur, Acholi, Luhya, Gishu, Nyoro, Toro, Kiga, Nkore, Karamojong, Adhola, Soga and Teso.
FELLOWSHIPS, GRANTS & HONORS:
2011 National Endowment for the Humanities Grant
2003 GLCA Grant for the Study of Obokano (Gusii
bowl lyre) of Kenya, East Africa
1998 MIT Class of 1948 Career Development Professorship Grant
1997 The Galpin Society Musical Instrument Research Grant
1993 National Endowment for the Arts Research Grant
1987 Dom Moquereau Foundation Scholarship Grant
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
ACADEMIC POSITIONS:
July '07 - Present, Associate Professor of Music, Department Chair, Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN.
July ‘00 – Present, Associate Professor of Music, Wabash College,
Crawfordsville, IN.
July ‘96 – June ‘00, Assistant Professor of Music, MIT,
Cambridge, MA.
1995 – 1996, Lecturer in Music, University of California, San Diego,
CA.
1993 – 1995, Teaching Fellow in Ethnomusicology, University of California,
Los Angeles, CA.
1990 – 1993, Teaching Assistant in Ethnomusicology, University of
California, Los Angeles, CA.
1988 – 1990, Graduate Research Assistant, Ethnomusicology Archives,
University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
1981 – 1986, Lecturer, Institute of Teacher Education, Makerere
University, Kampala, Uganda.
NON-ACADEMIC POSITIONS:
1990 – 1996, Artist-in-Residence, Los Angeles Music Center, Schools’
Division, Los Angeles, CA.
1988 Summer, Music Specialist Instructor, St. John's Child Development
Center, Autistic Division, Washington, D.C.
1982 – 1986, Schools’ Music Curriculum Director, National
Curriculum Development Center, Ministry of Education, Uganda.
1979 – 1986, Resident Conductor and Artistic Director, Cacemcho,
Uganda National Choir.
MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Africa Network
Galpin Society
African Studies Association (ASA)
Society for Ethnomusicology (SEM)
International Council for Traditional Music (ICTM)
MEMBERSHIP IN PERFORMING GROUPS
2003 to present Active Performing member of the “Wu Man and Friends”
2006 to 2009, Founding and active member of the Flamingo Vibrations
1996 to 2009, Workshop Presenter and Instrumentalist, Kayaga of Africa
1992 to 2009, Founder and Artistic Director, Kiyira Ensemble
1989 to present, The African Troubadours, managed and organized by the
New York-based World Music Institute.
CONFERENCES, COLLOQUIA, SEMINARS,
GUEST LECTURES, WORKSHOPS & PERFORMANCES
2011
October 6. At the invitation as a Guest Speaker at the Ohio Wesleyan University’s 2011 Sagan National Colloquium, I gave a presentation entitled “African Musical Instruments: Their Musical Function and Contextual Significance.” This annual colloquium is intended to provide “a forum for students, faculty, and the general audience to examine, thematically, issues affecting the continent and, in the process, help dispel some of the negative stereotypes about the continent.” At this guest lecture, I presented the endongo (8-string bowl lyres) and other instruments including endingidi (1-string tube fiddles), adungu (9-string bow harps), akogo (thumb pianos), madinda (12-slab log xylophones), enkwanzi (panpipes), endere (flutes), and embuutu (drums) as case studies. The presentation took place at Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH.
September 22-25. Following the invitation by the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, West Africa, I participated in the two-day International Festschrift Conference in Honor of Emeritus Professor J. H. Kwabena Nketia. At this conference, I made a PowerPoint presentation and read my paper entitled “African Folk Instruments: Reflections and Curators of Music Systems.”
September 19. At the invitation of Earlham College, Richmond, IN., I went and presented a guest ethnomusicology class lecture and interactive instrumental music workshop on the Folk music and dances of Uganda.
September 16-18. Participated in the annual Africa Network Conference that took place in Indianapolis, IN. Contributed and shared ideas with members on this year’s conference theme: “exploring the ways we change our pedagogies and research strategies as Africa itself undergoes tremendous changes.”
August 19. Using PowerPoint presentation, I read a paper during this year’s Ides of August – An annual Wabash Faculty research-related presentations forum. My presentation was entitled, “The Kaluki Chordophones: Their Meaning & Significance In, Around, and Beyond Sound.”
July 14-31. Traveled to Buganda, the south central region of the East African nation of Uganda. I spent two weeks there conducting ethnographic field research on three different but related chordophones. The ethnographic field project on these tube fiddles collectively referred to as “Kiluka” was conducted in the cultural tradition of the Baganda peoples.
July 5. At the Lew Wallace Museum, Crawfordsville, IN., I directed a whole day's Summer Workshop for elementary and high school students. I exposed and introduced them to basic performance skills on African drums and the Aije (harvest) community dance of the Acholi people
June 20-July 1. Received a National Endowment for the Humanities grant that enabled me to participate in the NEH Summer Institute at Wesleyan Univ. Middletown, CT.
June 15. Conducted a 2-hour Mid-Career workshop to the Mid-Career Theological School Faculty that came to the Wabash Center, Wabash College for a summer session. The workshop entitled “AENDINDO” Workshop focused on the cultural contextual function of three African chordophones in the respective cultures of the Alur, Baganda, and Basoga peoples. The three chordophones included adungu (bow harps) endingidi (tube fiddles), and endongo/entongooli (bowl lyres).
March 1. Wrote and sent a 1248-word article to EPMOW – the Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the Word. The East African popular music genre I wrote about and sent to EPMOW is entitled “Kadongo-kamu.” It is due to appear in this year’s encyclopedia series.
February 25-27, Participated in the Associated Colleges of the South (ACS) ACS-Mellon Teaching Seminar. Held at Davidson College, Davidson, N.C. The Theme of the Teaching Seminar was entitled, "Atlantic Africa: The Missing Link in Southern Culture." My Role was to conduct and direct the construction of Music syllabi with regard to filling in the Music of Atlantic Africa in the college courses.
2010
November 11-14, at the 55th Annual Conference for the Society of Ethnomusicology, Los Angeles, CA., I read a paper and seved on the panel with the theme, "African Music in the American Academy: Challenges and Directions."
November 8-9, at the 50th Anniversary AlumniSymposium for the UCLA Ethnomuscology Department, Westwood, CA, I presented, read a paper and discussed my research findings with regard to "The Effects of Bi-musicality in Ethnomusicology Fieldwork."
August 6-8, during the summer weekend, I participated in the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival in New Mexico. I did that by playing the adungu (9-string bow harp), and endongo (8-string bowl lyre), in collaboration with Wu Man on the pipa (Chinese lute), Lee Knight on the Applachian banjo and musical bow, as well as Julian Kytasty on the bandura (Ukranian lute).
On July 12, at the Lew Wallace Museum, Crawfordsville, IN., , I directed a whole day's Summer Workshop for elementary and high school students. I exposed and introduced them to basic performance skills on African drums and the Aije (harvest) community dance of the Acholi people.
On April 15-17, at the Annual Africa Network Conference, Denison University, Granville, OH., I presented and read a paper, "Building Courses on Africa in the Humanities and Fine Arts."I also served as a panelist on the same panel.
On January 22, at the invitation of the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, New York, USA, I performed a concert on three musical instruments. The three included: endongo (8-string bowl lyre),
adungu (9-string bow-harp), and endingidi (1-string tube fiddle). In this concert, I collaborated with Wu Man playing the pipa (Chines lute), and Lee Knight playing the Appalachian banjo and musical bow.
2009
On July 11, at the Lew Wallace Museum, Crawfordsville, IN., I directed a whole day's Summer Workshop for elementary and high school students. I exposed and introduced them to basic performance skills on the madinda (12-slab log xylophone) of the Baganda.
April 16-19, at the International Africa Network Conference, Chicago, Ill, I presented and read a conference paper as well as serving as chair to the panel that discussed the theme, "Managing Performing Arts on College and University Campuses."
On March 19, at the invitation of the Kansas University, Kansas, I performeda concert on the endongo (8-string bowl lyre), adungu (9-string bow-harp), and endingidi (1-string tube fiddle). In this concert, I collaborated with Wu Man playing the pipa (Chinese lute), and Lee Knight playing the Appalachian banjo and musical bow.
2008
On October 25, 2008, at Weber State University, Utah, I was invited as a key-note speaker at the University's annual festival this year entitled, "Musical Diversity." In addition to the talk I presented, I also conducted a workshop and gave a concert perfomance on three diverse cultural musical instruments. The three included: (a) endongo (8-string bowl lyre) of the Baganda people, (b) adungu (9-string bow harp) of the Alur people, and (c) endingidi (1-string tube fiddle) of the Basoga people.
2007
In the summer of 2007, during the East African Annual Conference held in Kampala, Uganda under the Theme on Music Education in Schools, Universities and Colleges, my paper presentation that I read was entitled: "Pedagogical Approaches of Folk Instruments in the Diaspora."
2006
October 28 -- School of Music, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
(USA). Presented a Lecture/Lecture Demonstration, "The
Adungu (Bow harps) of the Alur of Uganda: Their Evolution, Musical
and Contextual Functions."
April 7 -- Bergen Community College, New York/New Jersey, NY/NJ. Guest Lecture Demonstration and Evening Concert Performance on “Traditional Musical Instruments of Uganda: A Broad Overview.”
April 6 -- Carnegie Hall, Zankel Theater, New York, NY. Presented a Concert Performance on three Ugandan musical instruments including: Adungu (bow harp), Endongo (bowl lyre), and Endingidi (tube fiddle).
2005
Aug. 3-10 -- 38th World Conference of the International Council
for Traditional Music. Sheffield, England, U.K. Presented a Paper,
“Reviving, Reconstructing, and Revitalizing Instrumental Music:
An Examination of New Roles for Ugandan Chordophones.”
2004
October 16 -- Indiana Orff Schulwerk Association, Fishers, IN.
Conducted an 2-hour workshop to the association teachers
at their annual chapter conference.
October 5 -- Humanities Colloquium at Wabash College, IN.
Presented a Talk, “Music, A Powerful Creative Medium
for Mass Mobilization.”
September 2-6 -- International Council for Traditional Music Colloquium
at the University of Limerick, Ireland. Presented a Paper,
“Music and Discord, Articulation Resolution through Music.”
August 20 -- Ides of August at Wabash College.
Presented a Talk, “The Lyre Culture of East Africa.”
March 12 -- Trinity College of Music, London, UK. Presented
a two hour workshop on “The Art of Baakisimba Drumming
of the Baganda.”
February 28 -- Carnegie Hall, New York City.
Presented a Solo Performance in Zankel
Hall on five different traditional East African musical instruments including
endingidi (1-string tube fiddle), akogo (thumb piano),
amadinda (12 slab xylophone), adungu (9-string bow harp)
and endongo (8-string bowl lyre).
February 8 -- Kent State University, Stark Campus,
Stark, OH. Presented a Guest Lecture and Concert
Performance on the “Musical Cultures of Uganda.”
2003
October 15 -- Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA,
Presented a Guest Lecture, “The Lyres of East Africa.”
October 15/16 -- Crossroads Professional Recording Co.,
New York City. Studio recording on endongo
and adungu with Wu Man the pipa (Chinese lute) virtuoso player.
September 27 -- Directed the Wabash College Wamidan World Music
performance ensemble at a concert performance at the
Annual Celtic Folk Festival, Cincinnati, OH., .
Summer -- International Folk Harp Conference HarpCon2003, Bloomington,
IN. Presented 2 Workshops entitled: “
Adungu (bow harp) Rhythms,” and “Advanced Improvisation
Styles on the Adungu.
March 20 -- University of Missouri, Kansas City,
MO. Presented a Guest Lecture to the Graduate
and Undergraduate classes on the “Music and Dance of Uganda.”
February 8 & 9 -- Annenberg Center, Pennsylvania State University
Philadelphia, PA., presented 2 workshops and
2 concert performances on the Music and Dance of East
Africa with a special focus on Ugandan cultures.
January 21 -- Wabash College Humanities Colloquium. Presented
a paper on “Engoma (Drums): The
Heart of A Culture in East Africa: Their Meaning and Significance in the
culture of the Baganda (people).
2002
August 4-24 -- Directed a 3-week Faculty/Student Research project
in East Africa. Traveled to Uganda with a Wabash College student;
collaborated in the project of learning how to build Ugandan/African drums
under the apprenticeship of two traditional master musicians drum builders/makers.
July 1-4 -- 17th International Joint Conference by the Musicological
and Ethnomusicological Societies. Catholic University, Leuven,
Belgium. Read a Research Paper “The Migration of
Adungu”. Chaired two conference panels.
March 8-9 -- Bowling Green State University, OH. 2 Guest
Ethnomusicology/World Music Lecturers: Graduate and Undergraduate
classes. Presented a Lecture demonstration to University-wide
audience on the “Music and Dance of East Africa.”
March 22-23 -- Together with visiting artists - Kayaga of
Africa and Kiyira ensemble - presented a full-scale concert program
and two workshops to Wabash College, & Crawfordsville
elementary, middle and high schools.
2001
October 28-29 -- Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, NY.
Bang-on-A-Can Annual Festival,Concert Performance. Instrumental duet on
the endongo (bowl lyre) of Uganda and pipa (Chinese
lute) by Wu Man.
October 22-26 -- Society for Ethnomusicology Annual Conference.University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor and Detroit, MI. Panelist that discussed the “Role
of Academic World Music Performance Ensembles in Colleges.
September 1-3 -- 11th Ugandan National Convention. San Diego,
CA. Presented workshop and concert performance
with the Kayaga of Africa performance ensemble on the "Music and
Dance of Uganda."
August -- Ides of August, Wabash College Presented a
Paper “Endongo: Better Extinct than Different?”
July 1-8 -- 36th International Council for Traditional Music.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Presented a paper, “Endongo,
Bowl Lyre of the Baganda: Better Different than Extinct.” Organizer,
Conference Panel on the "Music of East Africa."
April 2-- Society for Ethnomusicology, Mid-Western Regional Chapter Conference;
University of Cincinnati, OH. Presented a Paper: "Kadongo-kamu:
The IndigenousPopular Music Genre of Uganda"
.
February 17 -- Louisiana State University, LA. Black
History Month, as a member of the Kiyira Trio, presented a full-scale
concert & lecture demonstration on "African
music."
2000
November 3-6 -- Annual Conference of the Society for Ethnomusicology.
Toronto, Canada. Presented a paper, “Kadongo-kamu:
Popular Music Genre of Uganda. ”
October 5-9 -- Elementary, middle, high schools, colleges and city of
Gillette. With members of the Kayaga of Africa and Kiyira performance
ensembles, conducted workshops and performed a full-scale
concert program on "African Music."
June 19 -- Directed the MIT African Music and Dance ensemble (MITCAN)
at the Boston Symphony Hall in a joint concert
performance with the Boston Pops.
March 15 -- Presented a paper, “Endere (reed flutes) of
the Baganda of Uganda” at the Annual Eastern Chapter Conference
of the Society for Ethnomusicology, held at Tufts University, Sommerville,
MA.
February 27 -- Solo Concert Performance on three different
instruments including endingidi, adungu, and ndongo
at the 15th Anniversary Gala Benefits Concert at the City of New
York, Town Hall at the invitation and organization by the World
Music Institute.
February 14 -- Concert Performance on the East African
Instrumental Music at the opening of the New England Aquarium
Adult Members’ evening. The concert program by the Kiyira
trio of which I was the artistic director featured five different musical
instruments including the madinda, ndongo, ndingidi, akogo, and
adungu.
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