For Future Generations - Hugh Tracey and the International Library of African Music

19 November 2011-31 March 2012. The Iziko Good Hope Gallery hosts this travelling exhibition, entitled For Future Generations - Hugh Tracey and the International Library of African Music, which pays homage to the pioneer researcher of African music, Hugh Tracey.  On display is a range of African musical instruments from the International Library of African Music (ILAM) collection, as well as items related to Hugh Tracey’s field research, publications and film and audio recordings.

Tracey’s passion for African music started when he first arrived in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and heard African songs sung by Karanga farm workers while working on his brother’s tobacco farm. Since then he started recording and publishing songs, legends and stories of the Karanga and as well as of other African populations.

In 1954 Hugh Tracey founded the International Library of African Music (ILAM), a research institute and archive based at Rhodes University in Grahamstown. Tracey’s main purpose is to preserve the thousands of audio recordings of African musicians, which date back to the 1920s. These recordings were gathered together on Tracey’s many excursions throughout east, central and southern Africa.  This event aims to highlight the importance of African music in the preservation of African cultures.    

Daily 09.00-16.00.