African Music Archives (AMA)
The African Music Archives (AMA), founded in 1991, contains a collection of modern African music which is unique in Germany. It includes shellacs and vinyl-records, audio- and videotapes, CD’s and DVD’s. At present, there are approx. 10.000 sound carriers, part of them dating back to the 1940’s. Regional emphasis is on Ethiopia, Ghana, Cameroon, Congo (Ex-Zaire), Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania. Beyond that, more or less representative inventories from almost any sub-Saharan Country can be found in the collection, which is continuously extended by additional purchases. Several thousands of newspaper clippings are preserved, sorted by country, genre and artist. The articles, reports, interviews, reviews, etc. present a vast amount of background material that can be inspected on the spot.
A short portrait of the AMA by Nigeria's portal Naij, 30.01.2013
African Music from the Basement
The University of Mainz' own JGU magazine presents the AMA, 7.11.2012
La Representació Visual De La Música Africana
The exhibition that accompanied the symposium 'African Music in the 21st Century - An Iconic Turn' was shown in Barcelona, 13.-22.10.2012
Abbas Showcases His Videos at International Symposium
The Kenyan entertainment website Ghafla on the performance of Abbas Kubaff on the symposium "African Music in the 21st Century", 17.7.2012
African Music in the 21st Century – An Iconic Turn?
An International Symposium Celebrating the 21st Anniversary of the African Music Archives Mainz (AMA). Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany. June 13th – 16th 2012
Convenors: Hauke Dorsch, Matthias Krings
Programme; poster
An Unexpected Home for African Music: The German City of Mainz
Article on the AMA by Andrea Löbbecke on 'monsters and critics', March, 1st, 2012
The research project "Festivalisation and Interculturality - Music Festivals in Africa and Germany" has been started. So far research focused on representations of Africa at African music festivals in German speaking countries. At a later stage we will look at music festivals in different African countries. The project is funded by the Centre for Intercultural Studies at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.
Short Clip on the AMA (in German language)
"Indépendance ChaCha - African Pop Music since the Independence Era" A contribution by Hauke Dorsch in Africa Spectrum 45, 3 / 2010
"Sounds of Africa" an article on the AMA by Oliver Sefrin, "Deutschland" magazine, hosted by German Missions in South Africa
"African Music Finds a Home in Germany" Interview with Hauke Dorsch
By Bethsheba Achitsa with Ogova Ondego
Contact
and African Studies
Room U1-613
Forum Universitatis 6
55099 Mainz
Germany
Map of the area
Monday 11-14
Wednesday 12-14
Quick Links