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This video from the Berklee Online course Black Creative Expression: An Introduction to Africana Studies features musician Marisa Correia, who was born and raised in Tarrafal, Cape Verde. Correia plays Batuku, a traditional African music genre that dates back to the pre-colonial period and was especially important as a form of expression for women. Historically performed at weddings and baptisms that would last through the night, Batuku has deep cultural roots in community celebration and storytelling. Correia shares with course author Emmett Price III how Batuku was once banned due to harmful stereotypes linking it to women accused of infidelity. Despite these efforts to suppress it, the genre endured and became more powerful over time. While modern performances may feature a range of instruments, Correia emphasizes that Batuku must include traditional elements such as the chabeta and cloth-based percussion—tools originally used to create its distinctive rhythms. Today, Batuku faces challenges from government officials and producers who view performances within this genre as expensive or logistically difficult to organize. Still, the community continues to come together to perform it at major events, preserving its legacy. Correia sees Batuku as a way for people to feel free, express themselves, and share African culture with others. She notes that tourists often request Batuku performances, which helps keep the tradition alive for future generations.
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ABOUT EMMETT G. PRICE III:
Emmett G. Price III, PhD, is the founding dean of Africana Studies at Berklee College of Music and an internationally recognized expert on Black music, Afro-diasporic expression, and Christian worship. He is the author of “Hip Hop Culture,” executive editor of “The Encyclopedia of African American Music,” and editor of “The Black Church and Hip Hop Culture: Toward Bridging the Generational Divide.” A former editor-in-chief of “The Journal of Popular Music Studies,” his scholarship has appeared in leading journals such as “American Music,” “Ethnomusicology,” and “The Yale Journal of Music and Religion.” A celebrated speaker, he has addressed audiences at Nike, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and NPR’s “All Things Considered,” and is co-host of the “All Rev’d Up” podcast. A trained musician, Price has performed globally with sacred music ensembles, gospel choirs, and jazz bands.
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Black Creative Expression | Africana Studies | Emmett G. Price III | Berklee Online | African Culture | Batuku | Gospel | Culture and Music | Marisa Correia