معرفی
Louise Meintjes is the Marcello Lotti Professor of Music and Professor of Cultural Anthropology at Duke University's Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. She holds dual appointments in the Department of Music and the Department of Cultural Anthropology. Her academic career includes roles from Lecturer (1996-1997) to Assistant, Associate, and full Professorships since 1997. She has also served as Chair of Cultural Anthropology (2020–2024).
Meintjes earned a B.Mus. from the University of Stellenbosch (South Africa, 1982), M.Mus. (1988), and Ph.D. (1997) from the University of Texas at Austin. Her research focuses on ethnomusicology, sound studies, and cultural anthropology, particularly exploring the intersections of music, voice, dance, and politics in postcolonial contexts, with a focus on South Africa. She examines topics like ngoma dance-music competitions, recording studio cultures, and the sensory dimensions of artistic expression.
Her major publications include Dust of the Zulu: Ngoma Aesthetics after Apartheid (2017) and Soundscapes: Toward a sounded anthropology (2010). She has received prestigious awards such as the Alan Merriam Prize and Gregory Bateson Book Prize for her work. Current research includes projects on sound regulation in urban Uganda and the politics of participatory performance.
Meintjes has led grants like the ACLS Emerging Voices Fellowship (2021–2022) and NSF-funded doctoral research on urban soundscapes. She teaches courses in ethnomusicology and cultural anthropology, including advanced seminars on sound studies and global performance practices.
Her artistic works include radio programs like Afropop Worldwide: The Zulu Factor and installations exploring Zulu cultural aesthetics. She actively participates in academic service, including editorial roles and initiatives for departmental climate and anti-racism in academia.
