Online Oral History Ceremony to Honor Professor Jacqueline Cogdell DjeDje
Jacqueline Cogdell DjeDje, a renowned ethnomusicologist with a focus on African, African American, and Jamaican musical traditions, is the subject of a new oral history now available online through UCLA's Center for Oral History Research.
The oral history, conducted by Donna Armstrong, delves into various aspects of DjeDje's life, including her early musical influences, academic journey, and professional career.
Born in Jesup, Georgia, DjeDje's passion for music was nurtured by African American fiddling traditions. This early exposure to music would later influence her work, such as her book Fiddling Is My Joy, which explores the history of fiddling among African Americans from the seventeenth to the mid-twentieth century.
DjeDje's academic journey began at Fisk University, where she earned a B.A. in music, specializing in piano. She then moved to UCLA, where she would go on to earn her M.A. (1972) and Ph.D. (1978). At UCLA, DjeDje was mentored by several influential figures, including Peter Crossley Holland, David Morton, Mantle Hood, and J. H. Kwabena Nketia. These relationships would significantly shape her career, leading her to focus on ethnomusicology and eventually becoming Professor Emerita and former Director of the UCLA Ethnomusicology Archive from 2000 to 2007.
The oral history provides a comprehensive account of DjeDje's professional career, spanning her tenure as a faculty member in the Department of Music (1979-1989) and the Department of Ethnomusicology (1989-2013). It also discusses her role in producing numerous collections of audio field recordings and ethnographic materials related to African and diasporic musics, which have provided valuable insights into the study of cultural identity, social norms, religion, ritual, and gender roles within these communities.
In addition to the oral history interview, the online resource includes a table of contents, DjeDje's curriculum vitae, and a biographical summary.
To read the full interview, visit the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research website. A symposium and concert celebrating the re-opening of the UCLA Ethnomusicology Archive, titled "Documenting the Sounds of Africa: Archiving, instruments, and Researching the Local," will take place on Friday, January 11, 2019, from 8 am to 7 pm. This event promises to be a fitting tribute to DjeDje's contributions to the field of ethnomusicology.
- Jacqueline Cogdell DjeDje's academic journey, spanning from Fisk University to UCLA, was a significant part of her journey in education-and-self-development, culminating in her earning a Ph.D. from UCLA in 1978.
- Furthermore, DjeDje's professional career involved extensive online-education and learning through producing numerous collections of audio field recordings and ethnographic materials related to African and diasporic musics.
