Joe Johnson’s presentation theorizes the banjo as a Black diasporic site of ritual, memory, and ancestral resistance. Mobilizing Ana Maurine Laura’s concept of “Bodylands,” this presentation examines the (co-)constructions of banjos and the Black bodies who activate them as ancestral technology. It highlights how Black practitioners claim the instrument through spiritual, material, and organizational practices by tracing the banjo’s trajectory from its 17th-century Caribbean manifestations to its resurgence following the Grammy-winning success of the Black string band the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Johnson’s work confronts many popular views of the banjo, which represent it as an instrument of mainly white bluegrass and country musicians. Grounded in oral history, participant observation, and performance, Johnson’s research explores the banjo’s enduring role in Black cultural life beyond its whitewashed image.

The Botkin Lecture Series is part of AFC's ongoing public programming activities highlighting the fields of folklife, ethnomusicology, oral history, and related disciplines; foregrounding its archival holdings; and fulfilling its congressionally mandated mission.

Free and Open to the public, but tickets are required. 

Accessible seating is available upon request. Please request ADA accommodations at least five days in advance by contacting 202-707-6362 or ada@loc.gov.