Dancing the Afrofuture: Hula, Hip-Hop, and the Dunham Legacy

A Black dancer chronicles her career as a scholar writing the stories of global hip-hop and Black culture, tracing her teaching and research against a political and cultural backdrop that extends to the twenty-first century. She emulated her mentor Katherine Dunham by studying and performing hula, and her research on hip-hop youth culture took her from Hawai i to Africa, Europe, and South America.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 330 pages
Publication date: 29 February 2024
Publisher: University Press of Florida

A Black dancer's journey as a scholar writing the stories of global hip-hop and Black culture is a captivating tale of an artist with a long and illustrious career of artistry and activism. Transitioning from performing Black dance to documenting it in history as a Black studies scholar, this dancer has embarked on a remarkable journey of personal growth. Told through the lens of her book, Dancingin Blackness,Halifu Osumare reflects on the profound impact her first career, which began during the 1960s Black Arts Movement, has had on her development as an academic.

Osumare's teaching and research are intricately intertwined with a political and cultural backdrop that spans from the 1960s to the present day, including the Black Lives Matter movement and a vibrant speculative Afrofuture. In her memoir, Osumare delves into her decision to step away from full-time involvement in dance and community activism to pursue a doctorate in American studies from the University of Hawai i. Drawing inspiration from her mentor, Katherine Dunham, Osumare studied and performed hula, further expanding her knowledge and expertise in the field.

Her research on hip-hop youth culture took her on a global journey, from Hawai i to Africa, Europe, and South America, where she served as a professor at the University of California, Davis. Throughout her scholarly career, Osumare has illuminated the resilience of African-descendant peoples through a focus on performance and the lens of Afrofuturism.

Osumare's work as both a professional dancer and a pioneering academic is widely respected. She shares her experiences from her second career in this memoir, showcasing the potential of scholarship in revealing and documenting underrecognized stories of Black dance and global pop culture. Through her memoir, Osumare dances across various fields of study, ruminating on how the Black past reveals itself in the Afro-present, which is shaping the Afrofuture.

This captivating tale of a Black dancer's journey serves as a testament to the power of art, activism, and scholarship in shaping our understanding of history and culture. Osumare's memoir offers a glimpse into the rich tapestry of Black dance and global pop culture, shedding light on the stories that have been overlooked and underappreciated. It is a testament to the enduring legacy of Black artists and scholars who have contributed to the world's cultural landscape.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780813069876