Ep 19: Decolonization

Ep 19: Decolonization

Author: Dr. Reiland Rabaka September 25, 2025 Duration: 53:04

Episode Date: September 25, 2025

"Decolonization is not simply political. It is also cultural and musical. We can decolonize our minds, our art, and our institutions as we imagine a world rooted in justice, peace, and love." — Dr. Reiland Rabaka

In Episode 19 of The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and Democracy, Dr. Reiland Rabaka takes us deep into the meaning and urgency of Decolonization. Far more than a political project, decolonization encompasses cultural, spiritual, and musical transformations. It is about dismantling oppressive systems while reclaiming knowledge, heritage, and self-determination.

Dr. Rabaka draws on the powerful legacies of thinkers and activists like Frantz Fanon and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, whose groundbreaking works called for decolonizing the mind, language, and cultural identity. He also highlights the role of musicians such as Fela Kuti, whose Afrobeat rhythms became a global soundtrack of resistance, and organizations like the Black Consciousness Movement, which connected struggles for freedom across Africa and beyond.

This episode asks us to consider how the echoes of colonialism shape our world today and how communities continue to resist, reimagine, and rebuild. With music, history, and critical thought, Dr. Rabaka shows that decolonization is not a relic of the past but a living struggle that challenges us to envision new possibilities for justice and liberation.

See all show notes and our Decolonization playlist on our website.


Dr. Reiland Rabaka hosts The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and Democracy, a series produced in collaboration with the Center for African and African American Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder. Each episode feels like a necessary gathering, a space where the rhythms of song, the lessons of the past, and the ongoing work of building a just society converge. You’ll hear dialogues that are both courageous and nuanced, moving beyond simple answers to examine how cultural expression and historical understanding fuel democratic engagement. This podcast is built on the conviction that art and critical thought are not separate from the fight for equity; they are its very heartbeat. Rabaka guides these explorations with a scholar’s depth and a listener’s curiosity, drawing connections between a protest anthem, a pivotal moment in history, and the contemporary struggle for racial justice. It’s an audio experience designed to provoke thought, deepen perspective, and remind us that learning itself is a form of action. Tune in for insightful reflections and powerful conversations that challenge, inspire, and underscore the interconnectedness of our cultural and political lives.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 33

The Cause:  Conversations on Music, History, and Democracy
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