Bo Diddley Meets Africa: A lecture recital by Kingsley K. Okyere

Kingsley K. Okyere will present a lecture recital on connections between American musician Bo Diddley and traditional music of Ghana, advised by Dr Sarah Politz.

Okyere will discuss his work leading the Bo Diddley/African Rhythms Project for the George A. Smathers Libraries. As an ethnomusicology graduate student, he conducted research in the Ellas B. McDaniel (Bo Diddley) Collection at the Libraries, enabling him to trace the "Bo Diddley Beat" to its African origins. Bo Diddley originated a number of influential innovations including a syncopated rhythm that became foundational in modern Rock n Roll.

Okyere conducted research that resulted in a composition combining elements of Afrobeat with Rock n Roll. Musicians at the University of Florida and from the Gainesville community will perform Okyere’s composition as part of the lecture recital..

Admission is free, and the event is open to the public. A reception will be held after the program.

The event is sponsored by the George A. Smathers Libraries, School of Music, Center for African Studies, and Center for Arts, Migration, and Entrepreneurship. For more information about the event, please contact Elizabeth Haven Hawley at ehh@ufl.edu. Additional information about Bo Diddley's influence on American music is available at https://news.ufl.edu/2019/03/bo-diddley-collection-at-uf-honors-the-originator/.

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