Rambax Senegal Study Tour

The Rambax Senegal Study Tour (IAP January 2027) is for students enrolled in the advanced section of 21M.460 to participate in intensive drum and dance workshops and to be involved in a cultural and musical exchange with members of Lamine Touré's family drum troupe in Senegal.  Rambax students will spend the bulk of their time in drumming workshops taught by these world-class Senegalese musicians and dancers.  In addition to participating in daily rehearsals, the students will have the opportunity to attend numerous musical events, including neighborhood dance parties and performances in nightclubs.  Visits to culturally and historically important sites such as Gorée Island (which includes the historic Slave House) and the Museum of Black Civilisations will help round out the students’ uniquely Senegalese experience.

The two-week cultural immersion will culminate in two public performances, in Kaolack and in Dakar.  These performances will not only show the musical fruits of the hard work that the Rambax students have put into their drumming, but also show the Senegalese how a culturally diverse group of American students has been dedicated to learning Senegalese artistic traditions.

Program Dates: December 27, 2026 - January 10, 2027

Credit: This program is not for credit.

Requirements:

• Students need to be enrolled in the advanced section of 21M.460 in Fall 2026. 
  • MIT Graduate students enrolled in 21M.460 (as a listener or for credit) may also apply.
• There is no language requirement, but prior knowledge of French or Wolof is always helpful.

Application opens: September 2, 2026

Application deadline: October 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM

Apply here

There is no program fee, but students are advised to bring $200 for snacks and/or meals on the road.

Students will be staying in group housing (i.e. an Arts Center that has accommodations for study abroad programs). Students will be expected to share a bedroom with one other person (i.e. accomodations are double occupancy) but each pair of students will have their own bathroom. 

When traveling outside of Dakar, we will be housed in hotels (also double occupancy).

Visas are not needed for US Passport holders for stays less than 90 days.

If a student does need a visa, the program will provide guidance on this process.

There will be some amount of walking, and 1-2 flights of stairs to get to the bedrooms (there is no elevator). Estimated less than one hour per day of walking. Many roads are dirt (not paved). If we have an activity that involves large number of stairs (such as visiting the African Renaissance Monument) there will be an option to stay at the bottom and not climb the stairs.

Students with questions about accessibility are encouraged to contact Patricia Tang (pjtang [at] mit.edu) and MIT Disability and Access Services (das-student [at] mit.edu (das-student[at]mit[dot]edu)) early to discuss accommodations.