Scholars and performers of a musical style more likely to generate swaying hips than doctoral theses are gathering Thursday at the University of Kansas.

The “Make it Funky 2” symposium features funk music scholars and performers from the Kansas City region as well as from across the country. A similar event exploring the cultural and musical significance of funk was held at the Lawrence campus in May.

An African-American studies professor says he put together the conference to explore the connection between popular music and black writers.