Published: July 1, 2005

Professor Jacqueline Cogdell DjeDje has been named chair of UCLA’s Department of Ethnomusicology effective July 1, 2005. She succeeds professor Timothy Rice, who has assumed the post of associate dean, academic affairs in the School.

“I can think of no one better qualified than professor DjeDje to lead the department of ethnomusicology,” said Christopher Waterman, dean of the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture (UCLArts). “She brings to her new role an international reputation for scholarship as well as administrative expertise.”

DjeDje received M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Music (Ethnomusicology) from UCLA. She joined the ethnomusicology faculty in 1979. She became an associate professor in 1986 and a full professor in 1994. She has served as the director of the UCLA Ethnomusicology Archive since 2000.

DjeDje has taught theoretical area courses in African and African-American music and was director of an African-American vocal ensemble. Much of DjeDje’s research has focused on performance practices as they relate to the one-string fiddle tradition in West Africa. In recent years her research has extended to the study of fiddling in African-American culture and its inter-connections with Anglo-American music. In addition, she has conducted investigations on African-American religious music. She is particularly interested in how the dynamics of urban life give rise to change and other musical activity. She has conducted fieldwork in several countries in West Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, The Gambia, and Senegal), Jamaica, California, and the southern United States (Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, and Louisiana).

Professor DjeDje looks forward with great enthusiasm to her tenure as chair.