Dance in the History of Africa Network (DiHAN)
The DiHAN network, born in 2020 out of the research and dance work of Columbia University dance scholar Cécile Bushidi † (1980-2024), and historian Zoe Groves (Univ. Leicester, History Dept., UK) brings together academics and artists based in the UK, France, Italy, the Americas, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Burundi, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Lebanon, South Africa, Malawi, and various other African countries, whose work examines dance in the history of Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western and Central African countries as well as the African and Oriental diasporas.
Zoe Groves (Univ. Leicester, History Dept., UK) and ‘Funmi Adewole Elliot (independent arts practitioner and the founder of FAE studios, Nigeria/UK) are project pilots of DiHAN since 2022, and are currently working with Elizabeth Claire (CNRS, Sect. 33 Histoire Moderne et contemporaine|Centre de recherches historiques EHESS-CNRS, France) and Mirelle Flore Chamba Nana (Institut des Beaux-Arts de Foumban, Univ. Dschang, Cameroun) on a publication project for the network.
Writing Dancing in the History of Africa and the Diaspora
DiHAN scholars Zoe Groves (UK), ‘Funmi Adawole (UK/Nigeria), Elizabeth Claire (France) and Mirelle Flore Chamba Nana (Cameroon) are currently editing a collection of essays: Writing Dancing in the History of Africa. Thomas F. DeFrantz (Northwestern Univ., Performance Studies & Theater Depts., USA) and Dotun Ayobade (Northwestern Univ., Performance Studies & Black Studies Depts., USA) are DiHAN project pilots for a future residential research school that will project a future book publication on Writing Dancing in the History of the the African Diaspora to take place at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois (USA) in connection with the work of slippage – performance, culture, technology and (funding pending) the Northwestern Buffet Institute for Global Affairs.
In addition to the various DiHAN Project Pilots and current editors, core members of the network include: Helene Neveu-Kringelbach (senior scholar, Oxford University); Paolo Israel (University of the Western Cape); Mlondi Zondi (University of Southern California); Angie Epifano (PhD student, Yale University); Alexandra Thomas (PhD student, Yale University); Laura Quinton (Postdoctoral research fellow, New York University); RaShelle Peck (CUNY, New York); Waliko Makhala (Malawian ethnomusicologist, journalist and musician); Mariem Guellouz (MCF, Université Paris-Descartes); Francesca Declich (University of Urbino Carlo Bo); Nicholas Chielotam Akas (Nnamdi Azikiwe University); Caroline Mose (Technical University of Kenya); Maeline Le Lay (CNRS-Paris); Adrian Browne (Durham University); Caroline Deodat (Centre Georg Simmel/CNRS); Aminadab Havyarimana (University of Burundi); Oluwamuyiwa Akande (University of Ibadan, Nigeria); Lisa Gilman (Associate Professor in the English Department and Folklore Program at the University of Oregon, USA); Paul Scolieri (Barnard College Dance, Columbia University, USA); and Kayla Cherry (M2 Histoire et civilisations, EHESS, Paris, France).
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DiHAN currently includes choreographic artists, early career academics, established senior scholars and graduate students in the arts and humanities and social sciences disciplines based in Africa, the Near East, Europe, and the Americas.
The DiHAN network will be supported via the international Dance Studies Association (DSA, USA); and the Collegium for African Diaspora Danse, based out of Northwestern University, Chicago, USA in connection with the work of slippage. The DSA will feature news from the network in the DSA newsletter and publicise events to its membership. The Centre de recherches historiques (CRH) will do the same via this Carnet hypotheses. Both will archive materials produced at DiHAN network events, and facilitate the building of relationships and collaborations.
DiHAN Governance Document link
In honor of dance scholar Cécile Bushidi † (1980-2024)
African historian, Cecile Bushidi who worked most recently as Asst. Professor of Dance and History at Barnard College, Columbia University, USA, played an integral role in the creation and development of the DiHAN research network. Cécile was intended to be Co-Investigator on the Writing Dancing in the History of Africa and the Diaspora project and has collaborated with each of the DiHAN members in the past. We deeply regret her recent passing and intend to use this space and the various research projects of DiHAN to promote the collective work that her choreography and research scholarship so deeply engaged with.
