From ethnographic shows in the nineteenth century to "African markets" in zoos today; from funeral celebrations in urban settings in Ghana to workshops and world music festivals in Germany; from televised Independence Day celebrations in Africa to musical scenes and the nightlife in European cities - the contexts for the performance of African music could hardly be more diverse. This ethnography explores the production of social space and the negotiation of culture and ethnicity through musical performance in the transnational field between Berlin and Accra.
Florian Carl is an ethnomusicologist who worked on the representation and performance of African music in colonial and postcolonial contexts. He is currently engaged in research on the social history and contemporary significance of music and religious experience in southern Ghana.
