Founded in 1991 by cultural anthropologist Wolfgang Bender, the African Music Archives (AMA) at the Department of Anthropology and African Studies is home to Germany’s only collection of its kind, showcasing modern African music on formats from shellac and vinyl to tapes, CDs, and DVDs. The archive’s current holdings comprise around 20,000 sound recordings, some dating back to the 1940s.
Key regions represented in the collection include Ethiopia, Ghana, Cameroon, Congo (formerly Zaire), Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania. Beyond its regional strengths, the collection spans nearly all of sub-Saharan Africa—and it keeps growing through regular new acquisitions.
Thousands of newspaper clippings form part of the collection, organized by country, musical style, and artist. Visitors can explore a wealth of background material in the Mainz collection, including articles, reports, interviews, and record reviews, all available for on-site consultation.
The archive not only supports research and teaching but is also a valuable resource for anyone working in music, film, or journalism.
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Objekt des Monats Mai 2015
LP Fela Kuti "J.J.D. – Johnny Just Drop – Live !! at Kalakuta Republic"
