Preserving African musical instruments
Thanks to a grant from the United States Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation, the International Library of African Music (ILAM) at Rhodes University in Grahamstown recently upgraded its display cases, climate control systems, and lighting to conserve its collection of over 350 rare and old African musical instruments.
Founded in 1954 by ethnomusicologist Hugh Tracey with an assortment of traditional African instruments, today ILAM is a world-renowned research institution devoted to the study of music and oral arts in Africa. In addition to its large assortment of instruments, it preserves thousands of historical recordings going back to 1929, many of which are now digitized.
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ILAM’s instruments were however in a critical state of deterioration. Insect infestations, exposure to ultraviolet light, and fluctuations in temperature and humidity over the decades had resulted in many of the objects becoming brittle and vulnerable to breakage, risking their loss to history forever.
Through the U.S. Consulate in Cape Town, ILAM received $58,847.00 between 2014 and 2016 to install custom-built climate controlled cabinets and display cases, UV protection, and other climate control measures. In addition, ILAM created an electronic database with photos and sound tracks for each item in the collection, accessible through handheld tablets, to avoid repeated physical use of the instruments.
After touring ILAM and viewing the new displays in July 2016, U.S. Ambassador Patrick Gaspard praised the efforts by ILAM to preserve what the Smithsonian calls “the greatest repository of African music in the world.” A special concert, “Celebrating African Music” was held in conjunction with Ambassador Gaspard’s visit, to mark the 60th anniversary of ILAM, and highlight the partnerships that have contributed to its success.
