Professor Charles Pettaway Jr. Redefines Africana Music Scholarship and Cultural Narratives

Charles H. Pettaway Jr., MMus, Full Professor and Chair of Music at Lincoln University, is expanding his national influence in Africana music scholarship. Recognized by Close Up Radio, Canadian Music Today, and AfriClassical, Professor Pettaway elevates Africana music and cultural history through groundbreaking academic work and distinguished performances. He remains committed to preserving and elevating historically significant Black composers, such as Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges and George Walker, within classical traditions.

Central to Pettaway's scholarship is his academic book chapter, "The Myth of Absence: Black Presence in a Whitewashed World." This work challenges historical narratives by repositioning Africa, specifically Kemet (ancient Egypt), as foundational to global civilization, influencing mathematics and philosophy, and examines how these contributions were obscured. Concurrently, Pettaway is advancing a proposed Bachelor of Science in Africana Studies Music at Lincoln University, establishing it as a rigorous academic discipline intersecting history, sociology, and cultural identity.

Beyond academia, Professor Pettaway maintains an active presence as a concert pianist and educator. His 2026 engagements include performances and judging the Debose National Piano Competition, fostering emerging talent. Through his combined efforts in scholarship, curriculum development, and performance, Charles H. Pettaway Jr. profoundly contributes to a more expansive understanding of Africana traditions and their enduring influence on global culture.