Endangered Court Music of Northern Nigeria

The Subproject in Hildesheim is dedicated to researching and preserving the music of mainly courtly ensembles in north-eastern Nigeria, but also other musical forms of expression of the Kanuri and Bura. These diverse musical styles play an important role in the cultural and social identity of the region. Due to political instability and threats from groups such as Boko Haram, many of these musical treasures are endangered. The aim of the project is to digitize these recordings, make them scientifically accessible and preserve them for future generations. The processing of the music collections not only serves to preserve the cultural heritage, but also represents a resistance against destruction by radical forces.