Virtual International Conference on The Black Indian Ocean: Slavery, Religion, and Expressive Cultures (1400-1700)

The interdisciplinary conference explores new perspectives on the impact of slavery, religions,
migration and displacement across the Indian Ocean on Afro-Asian communities and their
expressive cultures in the early modern world (1400-1700). It aims to uncover the untold
musical histories of migration and migratory histories of artistic and material cultures of Afro-Asian communities in the Indian Ocean world and its diasporas, how these mobilities can be
identified in various cultural manifestations, and how expressive cultures and ritual articulated
identity, self-fashioning, community and resistance to human rights’ violations.

The event will culminate in a live performance by the Afro-Asian Kukutana Ensemble (founded by Dr. Janie Cole) of the 16th-century musical African slave narrative, Gabriel’s Odyssey, at Yale Luce Hall on April 4, 2025, at 7.30pm. The performance will be livestreamed.