Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Black Banjo Symposium is a celebration of the contributions of African Americans to the banjo. The event will take place 20 years after the first Black Banjo Summit, widely credited as the beginning of a Black Banjo Renaissance in the United States. The gathering will feature a day of panel discussions with Black Banjo musicians, makers, and scholars, as well as an evening event comprised of a concert and a public interview.
This evening portion of the Black Banjo Symposium will feature: 1) a public interview with musician Rhiannon Giddens, conducted by ethnomusicologist Dr. Allie Martin, and; 2) a musical performance by Black Banjo artist Demeanor (Justin Harrington). Rhiannon Giddens is one of the most-recognized artists in folk music in the United States. Giddens was a founding member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Today, she is one of the leading Black Banjo artists in the United States and has a vibrant career as a solo artist. Dr. Allie Martin is an ethnomusicologist and Assistant Professor at Dartmouth College, whose research focuses on African American music and sound. Demeanor is a songwriter, rapper, storyteller, and activist based in Greensboro, North Carolina, who mixes rap and folk music.
For transcript and more information, visit loc.gov/item/video-12492
The Black Banjo Symposium is a celebration of the contributions of African Americans to the banjo. The event will take place 20 years after the first Black Banjo Summit, widely credited as the beginning of a Black Banjo Renaissance in the United States. The gathering will feature a day of panel discussions with Black Banjo musicians, makers, and scholars, as well as an evening event comprised of a concert and a public interview.
This evening portion of the Black Banjo Symposium will feature: 1) a public interview with musician Rhiannon Giddens, conducted by ethnomusicologist Dr. Allie Martin, and; 2) a musical performance by Black Banjo artist Demeanor (Justin Harrington). Rhiannon Giddens is one of the most-recognized artists in folk music in the United States. Giddens was a founding member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Today, she is one of the leading Black Banjo artists in the United States and has a vibrant career as a solo artist. Dr. Allie Martin is an ethnomusicologist and Assistant Professor at Dartmouth College, whose research focuses on African American music and sound. Demeanor is a songwriter, rapper, storyteller, and activist based in Greensboro, North Carolina, who mixes rap and folk music.
For transcript and more information, visit loc.gov/item/video-12492
