Music without sound: Towards sustainable sound archives in Nigeria

Abstract

Archives are relevant tools for research and are important in all disciplines. It has also been a way to preserve and appreciate the contributions of different races and generations to mankind. While so much has been put in place to preserve literary works, machineries, relics, costumes, art works, and other items that our heritage was built on, it is disheartening to know that most of the music sounds, and audio materials that our foundation was laid on are lost without trace. For how long will we continue to talk about the music without hearing what they really sound like? This work focuses on the relevance of sound archives in Nigeria, challenges and recommendations, through a survey on Obafemi Awolowo University’s Department of Music Sound Archive. The paper employed descriptive and analytical research methods, using the Ife archive as a pointer to others, through identification and examination of archived materials, including a four (4) months’ field experience at the department’s archive with the archivist. The paper discovered that we are gradually losing our musical heritage, due to the low quality of attention given to our musical treasures. It also figured out that the sound archive is under great threat from the rising need of more portable and flexible audio and video devices. Something needs to be done about this urgently. Furthermore, the paper realized that some archives double as archive and library, exposing the archived materials to different forms of danger. In conclusion, the work presents some recommendations towards the creation of a sustainable sound archive in the Music Departments of Nigerian Universities, the National Archive, and a Music Museum. This will contribute positively to music scholarship. It will also be a point of reference and inspiration to musicians and most importantly, help preserve our musical treasures.