Hybrid ethnography

Rethinking presence, power, and solidarity in contemporary ethnographic research

Bibliographic Data

ID24228699
AuthorsOlaolu Lawal (Independent researcher)
Year2026
Volume35
Issue1
Pages76-93
Publication date2026-01-02
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBritish Journal of Ethnomusicology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0968-1221 • E-ISSN: 1741-1920
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17411912.2026.2728951
OpenAlexW7213927014
LanguageEN
References cited26

This article examines how the disruptions of COVID-19 reshaped the methodological trajectory of my doctoral fieldwork among contemporary oríkì performers in Southwest Nigeria. Confronted with travel restrictions and the ethical dilemmas of remote research, I turned to hybrid ethnography as a framework that integrates online and offline engagement in mutually reinforcing ways. Drawing on extended interviews, ‘step-in-step-out’ participant observation, and sustained interaction across social media platforms, I show how hybrid ethnography enabled the research to remain grounded in relational presence and an ethic of solidarity while navigating uneven technological access and shifting field conditions. Rather than treating digitality as a substitute for in-person immersion, I argue that hybrid ethnography offers a flexible, ethically responsive mode of field practice that reflects the interwoven realities of contemporary life. The article contributes to debates on presence, power, and methodological adaptability in a world increasingly shaped by digital mediation and unpredictable forms of disruption.

access to technology · Afrobeat · COVID-19 pandemic · digital ethnography · fieldwork ethics · oriki · Participant observation · relational presence · remote fieldwork · social media research · Solidarity · Arts and Performance Studies · Focus Groups and Qualitative Methods · Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics