The British Library’s sound archive holds history in perfect stasis: Francis Mwakitime's 1960s folk and Siti Binti Saad's 1920s taarab, protected from decay in climate-controlled stillness.  But Enzi journeys to Tanzania to reveal a different kind of preservation – a living, breathing legacy.  While the archive guards against loss, it also silences. In Tanzania, the communities connected to these musical pioneers – including Francis’s son, John Kitime, and Siti’s great-great-granddaughter –  actively perform and reimagine their ancestors’ songs.  Enzi poignantly contrasts these two approaches to cultural heritage: the museum's meticulous precision against the community’s vibrant, imperfect embrace, questioning which truly keeps memory alive.

COMING SOON

MAY 2025