When Music Speaks

Author: Laura McPherson

Talking drums? Xylophone praises? Flutes that seduce? All around the world, cultures have found ways to communicate using notes and rhythms of music, in what have been called "musical surrogate languages". This podcast explores these incredible traditions and what they can teach us about language, music, and the richness of human culture.
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Language: en-us

Genres: Science, Social Sciences

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Nigeria's musical surrogates, with Dr. Samuel Akinbo
Episode 4
Sunday, 27 July, 2025

After a long hiatus, we're back! Here I talk with Dr. Samuel Akinbo of the University of Toronto about a survey we've launched to catalog the diversity of musical surrogate languages found in Nigeria. But we also talk about his journey, how his childhood in Nigeria has shaped his research trajectory, and what it means to do Indigenous science.