From live performances by local artists to producing their own radio segments, discover how students in RMST 310 tuned in to the sounds, histories, and cultural significance of Francophone music around the world.
“Music reflects cultural identities, historical context, social movements, and global connections.”
Musical journey
This year, students in RMST 310 – La Vibe: Francophone Soundscapes from Afrobeats to V-Pop—a Romance Studies course taught by Dr. Antje Ziethen—embarked on a musical journey across the Francophone world, discovering how music reflects cultural identities, historical context, social movements, and global connections. Taught in English, the course invited students to explore a wide range of musical traditions and genres, from Afrobeats, Konpa, and Rumba to the sounds of Franco-Rap, V-Pop, and la chanson française.
Combining listening sessions, readings, historical contextualization, and lively discussions, the course encouraged students to engage critically with music as both an artistic and social practice. Through lyric analysis, genre studies, and explorations of transnational cultural flows, students gained a deeper understanding of the diversity and vitality of French-speaking cultures around the world.
Local artists
A highlight of the course was the opportunity to learn directly from artists active in Vancouver’s music scene. Guest talks and performances by Missy D, Joseph Sarenhes, Jadhé, Major Mugisho, and x/o offered students unique insights into the creative process, the realities of the music industry, and the role of Francophone artists in British Columbia.
Audio storytelling
For their final assignment, students participated in two hands-on workshops focused on radio production and audio storytelling. They then created their own radio segments highlighting a theme, genre, or artist of their choice. Some students chose to share their work with a wider audience through Kafou Muzik, the Francophone music program broadcast on CiTR 101.9 FM, UBC’s campus radio station.
Listen to student-produced segments and recent episodes of Kafou Muzik on CiTR’s website and discover the many sounds of the Francophone world: https://citr.ca/listen/kafou-muzik
- Student segment « Ça va bouger »: https://citr.ca/listen/kafou-muzik/20260325-8
- Student segment « Quand une ville te manque/When you miss a city – Montreal Edition »: https://citr.ca/listen/kafou-muzik/20260225-10
