Reflections on Empire: Positionality, Global Capitalism, and the Consequences of Ethnography

In a fieldwork trip to Lagos, Nigeria I was inspired by the friends, music, and cultural experiences that I was able to encounter. I'm thankful for the people that welcomed me into their artistic spaces enthusiastically and for those that tested me and my intentions as I worked to become more knowledgable about Nigerian popular music. One of the more jarring and persistent thoughts I had during the entirety of my Lagos trip was of Nigeria's relationship with "the west", how this influences the way the music industry operates, and what this all means for me—an American visiting and, potentially, contributing to these relationships. In an article with Rising Voices in Ethnomusicology, I reflect on what it means to be an American citizen, an African immigrant, and a foreign researcher in Lagos. I hope you find interesting things to think through and engage with while reading this piece.

https://risingvoicesjournal.com/202-chirwa-3