To better understand cultural relations in today’s multi-ethnic, multicultural societies, MusiCol delves into the musical dimension of the French empire, long-neglected by historians. It explores how musical practices enabled and embodied relations across differences of ethnicity, class, religion, and national origin. Focusing on musical life and media from Rabat and Dakar to Tananarive and Saigon, 1900 to 1962, MusiCol analyzes how music was practiced, heard, and understood in various contexts:

• learning music
• music in religious expression
• musical ensembles
• music in theatrical spectacles
• recordings
• colonial radio

In April 2026, two symposiums will be organised on the themes of 'Music as relation' (in Nice) and 'Music and media' (in Paris). A call for proposals can be found on their website, the deadline for sending in your proposal is 15 October 2025.