Department of Africana Studies/Rites and Reason Theatre at Brown

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Department of Africana Studies/Rites and Reason Theatre at Brown

The Department of Africana Studies/Rites and Reason Theatre at Brown University in Africana Studies and has one of the leading faculties in the discipline.

Located in the historic Churchill House on the campus of Brown University, the Department of Africana Studies is the intellectual center for faculty and students interested in the artistic, historical, literary, and theoretical expressions of the various cultures of Africa and the African Diaspora. Central to the intellectual work of the department is the close collaboration of artists and scholar

s in examining relationships between academic and artistic knowledge about the world and human experience. The Department offers a rigorous undergraduate program and graduate program leading to the Ph.D. Members of the faculty have received many prestigious honors and awards for their innovative scholarship and contributions to the academy and public life, including the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, the Gish Award, the Guggenheim Fellowship, the MacArthur Fellowship, and the Man Booker International Prize. The faculty in Africana Studies is at the forefront in advancing the discipline by researching and teaching new and innovative knowledge produced by the critical study of the intersections of class, gender, nation, race, and sexuality informed by multiple theoretical and methodological perspectives. The Department’s unique forum for arts and ideas, Rites and Reason Theatre, brings together artists and scholars to collaborate in communicating new and innovative thought forms and creative expressions. Since 1970 Rites and Reason has developed and produced over 100 plays and a wide range of artistic projects that have uniquely explored the breadth and depth of the histories, experiences, and ideas of the cultures of Africa and the African diaspora as well as other cultures from around the world. With the dynamic growth and evolution of the discipline, the Brown University Department of Africana Studies will remain at the forefront in creating new knowledge through the critical and comprehensive study of the peoples and cultures of Africa and the African Diaspora.

04/30/2026

All are welcome! Tuesday, May 5th 1:30pm. RSVP @ link in bio.

04/28/2026

Tomorrow only! All are welcome to a reading of a new play at Churchill House at 7:30!

04/22/2026

There Will Be Bloom! Join us for the annual Black Lavender Experience at Churchill House. Thursday will be LISTEN… LISSEN… featuring Daniel Alexander Jones and . Friday evening showcases new short plays created and performed by the students of AFRI 0990!

09/12/2025

Department Newsletter -

The department would like to extend our congratulations to Professor Keisha N. Blain on her newest publication, Without Fear: Black Women and the Making of Human Rights. Join us on Tuesday September 16th, 7:00 pm at riffraff bookstore for the book launch event. Congratulations, Prof. Blain!

09/05/2025

AUDITIONS! -

Open to all Brown undergraduate + graduate students and Non-Equity community members Please prepare a joke (or two) for your audition. Wear comfortable clothing; a brief physical warm up and exercise will be part of the audition. Monologues will be provided for your audition. Please follow this ...

09/03/2025

Department Newsletter -

09/02/2025

Interested in Africana Studies? Here are the amazing courses we have to offer this Fall! Be on the lookout this week for spotlight posts for these courses! Link in bio for all Africana Courses.

Address

155 Angell Street
Providence, RI
02912

Telephone

+14018633137

Website

http://www.brown.edu/academics/africana-studies/home

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