Pete Shungu has built a life in two different worlds.
As a professor in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, he prepares future music teachers to lead classrooms with care. But as a musician, he performs under the name Afro D, using various genres to connect cultures, languages and communities that are often kept apart.
On Nov. 15, Shungu released “Bridges Not Walls,” his first album in more than a decade. The independently released project blends hip-hop, jazz, mariachi and Congolese rumba. The diverse set of songs reflects his background and beliefs that he hopes will speak to people.
“I try to spit what I live,” Shungu said. “That’s my reality. I’m someone who is just passionate about trying to see the world move in positive directions. It’s one of the reasons why the album is called ‘Bridges Not Walls,’ because I feel like society naturally creates walls. But it’s also an intentional knock at this idea of building a wall that has become this rallying cry amongst people in this country.”
Shungu grew up in New Jersey before spending some time in Boston, where he taught at public schools and worked with nonprofit organizations that focused on youth empowerment. In 2017, he moved to Champaign-Urbana and later joined the University’s School of Music as a professor.
He’s taught many subjects — history, music and English as a second language — all while having a separate passion as a hip-hop artist and jazz trumpet player.
Lawrence Parks, senior in FAA and LAS, plays saxophone on three songs on the album. He’s also involved in two of Shungu’s bands: Afro D & Global Soundwaves and Nebulous. For Parks, working with Shungu has always felt easy.
“Outside of being a musician, (Shungu’s) a great friend to have, so I’m very fortunate to be a part of his album and just be around him as much as I am,” Parks said.
For a while, Shungu’s identities existed separately. Only in recent years has he been able to fully intertwine them.
That intersection can be found in his work as co-director of the Hip Hop Innovation Center, alongside professors Adam Kruse and Lamont Holden. Shungu manages the community-focused part of the center, creating opportunities for students to engage with hip-hop on campus.
Kruse, who works closely with Shungu, says the center exists because of the genre’s cultural importance.
“At the moment, hip-hop is really important to a lot of people, and it’s an important way that people understand themselves and understand their communities, and understand the world,” Kruse said. “Hip-hop has been happening for 5o plus years at this point, and it’s had so much to say, both in terms of individuals expressing themselves and being able to connect with others.”
Together, they’re planning to further immerse hip-hop into the lives of students. In the future, Shungu wants to create a major in hip-hop studies, as well as continue ongoing programs like the Illinois Hip Hop Camp.
At the camp, students learn how to make beats, write their own raps, DJ and collaborate on song production. The program ends with a performance at The Canopy Club, giving students the chance to showcase their work.
That validation is powerful for young students. Shungu recalls being in spaces where hip-hop was dismissed as illegitimate or unworthy as a music genre. He strives to reverse that stigma.
“Hip-hop is a way for people to authentically express their realities,” Shungu said. “I think that as society changes, hip hop changes as well. I think that young people challenge me to say, ‘This is a different style of hip hop, but it’s still hip hop,’ … I think it kind of bridges those gaps in certain ways.”
Those ideas remain true on his latest album. Each track reflects a different part of Shungu’s identity.
The song, “On the Block,” was inspired by Shungu’s work in education. Over a steady beat, he raps about creating something meaningful through reflection and teamwork. The lyrics reference mentoring youth and honoring the people he looks up to, including a dedication to “Dr. P.”
This reference holds weight for Shungu. William Patterson, a former professor at the University, was the co-founder and co-director of the Hip Hop Innovation Center. After his passing in 2024, Shungu stepped into his role with the purpose of honoring his legacy.
“One of the reasons that I’m so passionate about hip-hop is that I’m inspired by other people who have shared that passion for hip-hop,” Shungu said.
His heritage also plays an important role in the album. Shungu’s father is from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and that influence is clear in the track “Superpouvoir (Superpower pt 1),” which pays tribute to his Congolese roots.
Although Shungu grew up as a native English speaker, his father spoke multiple languages. Watching his father navigate the world inspired Shungu to learn new languages himself. He soon picked up French, but didn’t stop there.
In the song “Superpoder (Superpower pt 2),” Shungu seamlessly raps in Spanish and English while horns ring out in the background. The song features musicians from Mariachi Libertad, a mariachi band in which Shungu plays trumpet.
“I feel very passionately that multilingualism can be a bridge between cultures and should be something that should be celebrated,” Shungu said. “So, I felt like it was important since I do speak (French and Spanish) to make songs that spoke to those themes, but also collaborate with musicians who represented those cultures.”
Another standout on the album, “Diversity Equity Inclusion,” directly calls out racism, inequality and historical erasure in today’s society. Shungu says the song reflects both his personal beliefs and his awareness of the influence he holds as an educator.
“It can be affirming to folks who don’t necessarily see themselves represented in larger societal structures,” Shungu said. “Sometimes there are Black students who don’t necessarily feel represented in what’s going on in their school, and to be like, ‘Alright, I can engage in hip-hop, and this is something that my teacher is on board with, but also is a part of my culture.’ I think that can be powerful.”
Whether he’s teaching future educators, mentoring students or performing live around the community, Shungu continues to build spaces where people feel seen.