[Kansai Gaidai University] Open Lecture Series on 'Songs Do Not Remain Silent: Social Change and Music in Latin America' to be Held on Friday, June 19. Online Participation Available.

The 2026 open lecture series (2 sessions) of the Ibero-American Studies Center at Kansai Gaidai University has begun at the Nakamiya Campus in Hirakata City, Osaka. This year's theme is 'Songs Do Not Remain Silent: Social Change and Music in Latin America.' The second lecture will be held on Friday, June 19, from 5:00 PM at the Multimedia Hall, Building 5, Nakamiya Campus. Professor Hironao Ambo of Ritsumeikan University will speak on 'Social Change and Folk Music in Cuban History,' deepening participants' understanding through not only video but also live musical performances.

Event Overview

Date & Time Friday, June 19, 17:00 - 18:30

Venue Kansai Gaidai University, Nakamiya Campus, Multimedia Hall (Building 5, 1st Floor) 16-1 Nakamiya Higashino-cho, Hirakata City, Osaka 573-1001

Admission Fee Free

How to Participate In-person: No prior registration required. Please come directly to the venue. Online (Google Meet): Prior registration is required. Ibero Open Lecture Series Online Viewing Application Form https://kansaigaidai-university.form.kintoneapp.com/public/ibero003

The first session was held on May 29, with Professor Emeritus Izumi Chiba of Osaka University lecturing on 'Chilean Music Committed to Social Issues: 'Angelito's Farewell' and 'New Song''. He explained the evolution of modern Chilean music while actually singing with the participants.

Professor Emeritus Chiba is also a performer and composer. On the day, he spoke on two themes: the traditional Chilean song 'Angelito's Farewell' and the socially conscious 'Nueva Canción' (New Song) movement that flourished from the 1960s to the 1980s.

In his explanation of 'Angelito's Farewell,' he introduced the historical background of how monks used music for the evangelization of indigenous peoples since the late 15th century colonization. As an example of the indigenization of European instruments, he presented traditional instruments like the 'charango,' made from an armadillo shell.

'Angelito' refers to a child who died young, with roots in folk beliefs that venerate their soul as an angel. He explained that this song, where the deceased child bids farewell to the family, plays a crucial role as 'catharsis (spiritual purification),' soothing the hearts of the bereaved family and allowing them to release their grief.

He then discussed the 'Nueva Canción' movement, born in response to the momentum for social reform. Singers created works that advocated for the policies of the then-government but faced severe repression after the 1973 military coup. However, they continued to sing of hope for freedom and democracy from exile abroad and within the country's slums, and their songs supported the will of the people to resist.

He noted that when the country returned to a democratic system through a 1988 plebiscite, a song performed during the opposition's political broadcast gave great courage to the people. Between talks, Professor Emeritus Chiba played instruments like the 25-string guitar 'guitarrón' and performed songs related to the two themes.

[Contact Information] Kansai Gaidai University Research Support Center Tel: 072-805-2801 (Main) Email: ibero-2026@kansaigaidai.ac.jp

Kansai Gaidai University Official Website: https://www.kansaigaidai.ac.jp

'GO FOR it! Beyond Language.'

Kansai Gaidai University leverages its overseas network spanning 427 universities in 55 countries and regions (as of June 2026), sending approximately 1,300 students abroad annually. Its two campuses in Hirakata City, Osaka, host about 1,100 international students each year, fostering daily international exchange.

The university has established an educational system that allows students to learn diverse specialized fields such as culture, politics, and economics as a '+α' on top of their language skills. It offers diverse learning opportunities tailored to individual student interests, including the 'USCPA Pathway Program' aimed at obtaining the U.S. Certified Public Accountant qualification. Students acquire specialized knowledge beyond language, cultivating the solid skills needed to meet the demands of the future era and society.