Rhiannon Giddens: Connecting to Ancestors Through Music

Rhiannon Giddens, an acclaimed musician, shares her deep connection to her heritage through the banjo. She remarks, “When I play the banjo, I feel the ancestors. I sense the spirits coming through.” This connection fuels her passion and sustains her in the music industry.

Giddens focuses on the Black string band tradition, which dates back to the era of slavery. She contributed her banjo skills to Beyoncé’s hit song “Texas Hold ‘Em.” Additionally, she serves as the artistic director of the Silk Road Ensemble founded by cellist Yo-Yo Ma. This group collaborates with musicians worldwide, integrating diverse musical traditions.

Her recent album, Hope Is the Thing with Feathers, is inspired by a poem by Emily Dickinson. Giddens explains that the theme of hope resonates with her ancestors’ experiences of severe poverty in the American South. She articulates, “What right do I have to not have hope when I don’t have to worry about starving?” Although she acknowledges her doubts about humanity, she maintains faith in individuals.

This interview was produced and edited for broadcast by Therese Madden and Nico Gonzalez Wisler. Bridget Bentz and Molly Seavy-Nesper adapted it for online publication.