Dr. Dotun Ayobade

Biography

Dotun Ayobade is an Associate Professor jointly appointed in Performance Studies and Black Studies at Northwestern University. His research focuses on the embodied modes of culture and how they engage with concepts of community, justice, and activism, particularly within the context of late 20th century West Africa. Ayobade's work examines how West African artists use aesthetics and everyday social performances to shape lived realities, create a sense of belonging, and articulate the political economies of contemporary African societies. He is the author of 'Queens Afrobeat: Women, Play, Fela Kuti’s Music Rebellion,' a comprehensive study that highlights the lives of Nigeria’s Afrobeat Queens, a group of women who were pivotal in Fela Kuti’s music and activism. His scholarly contributions have appeared in various journals and edited volumes, focusing on the intersections of performance studies, Black studies, and African cultural studies. Ayobade also leads symposia on Afrobeats and explores how extractive economies affect bodily experiences and political life within African and diasporic contexts. His research interests include Black Studies, Choreography, Dance, Gender Diversity and Equality, Performing Arts, Social Activism, Sound Cultures, and Theatre History.

Research Interests

Courses