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.