THOUSAND OAKS, CA – An expert on Latin American literature and culture will discuss hip-hop artists and their music at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, at California LutheranUniversity.

Christopher Dennis, an associate professor at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, will discuss his new book “Afro-Colombian Hip-Hop: Globalization, Transcultural Music, and Ethnic Identities” in Lundring Events Center on the Thousand Oaks campus. A reception will be held at 4:30 p.m.

“Afro-Colombian Hip-Hop” explores the impact that globalization and the transnational spread of U.S. popular culture – specifically hip-hop and rap – are having on the social identities of younger generations of black Colombians. Dennis will discuss why and how hip-hop has migrated so effectively to Colombia’s black communities and will introduce the audience to some of the most renowned Afro-Colombian hip-hop artists and their musical innovations and production and distribution practices.

Dennis has published articles on Afro-Colombian literature, racial iconography, Cartagena’s tourist industry and the representation of black subjects in Colombian colonial literature.

Lundring Events Center is located in the Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center on the north side of Olsen Road near Mountclef Boulevard.

CLU’s Department of Languages and Cultures and Center for Equality and Justice are sponsoring the free lecture and reception. For more information, contact the Center for Equality and Justice at 805-493-3694 or cej@callutheran.edu.