Black Women's Music Database

About Us

Research Collective

The Black Women’s Music Database chronicles over 700 Africana singers, songwriters, composers, and musicians from around the world. The database was created by Dr. Stephanie Evans, a professor of Black women’s studies (intellectual history) and developed in collaboration with Dr. Stephanie Shonekon, a professor of Black studies and music (ethnomusicology). Together, the Stephanies established this project to encourage interdisciplinary research, expand creative production, facilitate community building and, most importantly, to recognize and support Black women’s creative genius. This database will be useful for music scholars and ethnomusicologists, music historians, and contemporary performers, as well as general audiences and music therapists. This site can help create playlists and creative resources like:

Africana Yoga #1 (Slow)
Africana Yoga #2 (Bangin')

This project maps leading Black women artists in multiple genres of music, including gospel, blues, classical, jazz, R & B, soul, opera, theater, rock-n-roll, disco, hip hop, salsa, Afro-beat, reggae, bossa nova, soka, and more.

Stephanie Y. Evans, PhD

Dr. Evans is a Professor of Black Women's Studies and Director of the Institute for Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Georgia State University. Her focus is Black women's intellectual history, memoirs, and mental health. In 2003, she earned her PhD in Afro-American Studies with a concentration in Advanced Feminist Studies from University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

Stephanie Shonekan, PhD

Stephanie Y. Evans, PhD

Dr. Shonekan is is former Professor and Chair of the W.E.B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies at University of Massachusetts-Amherst and incoming Associate Dean of Arts and Science & Professor of Music at University Missouri at University of Missouri. In 2003, she earned a PhD in Ethnomusicology and Folklore with a minor in African American Studies from Indiana University.

research from the black women's music database

Join the Research Collective: CALL FOR BOOK CHAPTERS

THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN POSTPONED.

Music heals. The purpose of the Black Women’s Music Database research collective is to amplify voices of singers, musicians, and scholars by encouraging public appreciation, study, practice, publication, and community building that centers Black women’s experiences, knowledge, and perspectives.

Black Women’s Music Database seeks to create an inclusive interdisciplinary dialogue about topics such as resistance and activism; race, gender, and sexuality; wellness and healing; training, tradition, improvisation, innovation, and more. This collection will bridge gaps between researchers, practitioners, educators, artists, and activists in a way that connects Black women around the world by centering race, gender, and music.

· Submit between 3000-4500 words (10-15 pages, including bibliography). APA citation.

· Email chapter to Stephanie Evans contact@professorevans.net with subject Black Women’s Music Database.

· Indicate clearly how chapter utilizes the Black Women’s Music Database.

· #CiteBlackWomen and #CiteASista: Include a full literature review of extant scholarship on your topic.

· Include 200-word bio and picture of author(s). Co-authored chapters are encouraged.

· Digital humanities projects that accompany book chapters are welcome.

Book manuscript(s) will be submitted to an academic press for review.

Conference forthcoming.