Ph.D.
African Studies
Howard University
2019
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Faculty
Faculty
Mesi Bakari-Walton, PHD
Assistant Professor of Spanish and African Diaspora Studies
Department/Office
- World Languages & Cultures
School/College
- College of Arts & Sciences
Additional Positions
-
Faculty FellowCOAS Honors Program
Biography
Dr. Mesi Bakari Walton’s research intersects with Africana, Latin American, and Cultural Studies. Her work explores how Afro-diasporic cultures are employed as symbols of identity and tools of survival through cultural texts of music, song, dance, language, and other practices. Dr. Bakari Walton completed her Ph.D. in Afro-Latin Studies in the Department of African Studies at Howard University with a focus on Afro-Venezuelan Cultural survivals. Dr. Bakari Walton was a U.S. Fulbright Scholar in Colombia and completed research titled, “Ancestral Identity - Afro-Colombian Cultural Traditions of the Atlantic Coast” and has publications on Venezuela and Colombia. Among them are the chapter “Dance, rhythm and ritual: Afro-Venezuelans in resistance” and an article titled “Women's collectives as a tool of agency in the Montes de Maria, Colombia”. Dr. Bakari Walton teaches Spanish language and Afro-Hispanic culture courses in the Department of World Languages and Cultures. She also organizes cultural exchange tours throughout Latin America for youth and adults. Dr. Bakari Walton holds a Master’s in Spanish Language, a Master’s in Early Childhood Education, and a Bachelor’s of Science in Human Development from Howard University.
Education & Expertise
Education
M.A.
Spanish Language & Linguistics
Howard University
2012
M.Ed.
Early Childhood Education
Howard University
2003
B.S.
Human Development
Howard University
2002
Expertise
Academics
Academics
Art, Music & Dance in the Afro-Hispanic World
Art, Music & Dance in the Afro-Hispanic World is a course aimed at deepening student’s knowledge of the cultural practices and artistic expressions of people of the Hispanophone world. Lessons cover geography, history, politics, economy, society, music, dance, race, and art. The course highlights the cultural memory and practices of African peoples for each country through Art, Music and Dance. This course utilizes in-class discussion, lectures, student collaboration and presentations.
Hispanic Peoples and Cultures
Hispanic Peoples and Cultures is a course aimed at deepening student’s knowledge of the sociopolitical institutions, literary and other cultural contributions of the peoples of the Spanish-speaking world. Lessons will cover geography, history, politics, economy, society, music, dance, race, and art. The course will highlight various forms of culture such as music, dance, attire, language and more through the lens of history, politics and society. The course will heavily focus on the cultural memory and practices of African peoples. This course will be a 3-credit course utilizing in-class discussion, lectures, student collaboration and presentations. The course will be taught in Spanish but some of the readings and films may be in English.
Spanish Oral Communication I
This is an intermediate language course designed for students familiar with Spanish grammar with the objective of improving Spanish oral skills in different communicative situations while acquiring a more profound understanding of Hispanic cultures. Students will learn how to express themselves in Spanish in formal and informal settings, practicing with speakers at varying levels while talking about a variety of topics, including science, sociology, films, music, and literature. Discover what makes a good narration, how to build a strong argument, what to say to structure an oral presentation, and how to expand or self-correct yourself during a conversation.
Spanish Oral Communication II
This is an intermediate language course designed for students familiar with Spanish grammar with the objective of improving oral expression. It emphasizes consolidation and expansion of the skills of oral fluency, and comprehension. In addition to focusing on spoken Spanish, the course uses short movies and readings to develop vocabulary and to practice discussing topics of interest in the Hispanic world.
Intro to Humanities
The Humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition. This course introduces students to the academic disciplines that promote a sense of humanity. During this semester, we will study literature, theatre, film, art, music, architecture, philosophy, and religion by critically thinking about moral values, myths, aesthetics, and liberty; all of this within African Diaspora frameworks. The goal is to analyze underlying assumptions about the way societies are formed and run and how societies express their ideas through these mediums. This course is designed to reawaken our sense of wonder and curiosity about the meaning of life. It shows how the various arts and sciences intersect, influence and are influenced by cultural and historical circumstances. Focus is on developing the conceptual tools to understand cultural phenomena critically.
Spanish 003
Spanish 003 is the third level of four (4) sequentially taught language courses designed to satisfy the foreign language requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences. It is a three-credit undergraduate course that is offered in the Fall and Spring semesters and often during the summer.
Spanish 002
Spanish 002 is the second level of four (4) sequentially taught language courses designed to satisfy the foreign language requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences. It is a three-credit undergraduate course that is offered in the Fall and Spring semesters and often during the summer.
Spanish 001
Spanish 001 is the first level of four (4) sequentially taught language courses designed to satisfy the foreign language requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences. It is a three-credit undergraduate course that is offered in the Fall and Spring semesters and often during the summer.
Research
Research
Specialty
Ethnographic research on Africana, Latin American and Cultural Studies. I am interested in how Afro-Diasporic cultures survive and are employed as symbols of identity amid adversity.Accomplishments
Accomplishments
Fulbright Scholar 2021-2022
Dr. Bakari Walton was awarded a U.S. Fulbright Scholar Award to conduct research in Colombia. She completed field research on the culture of a historic maroon region in the Atlantic of Colombia and how Ancestral Memory links to current identity of Afro-Colombians.