SOAS Exhibition Showcases Sounds Of Namibia

Unique exhibition focuses on the popular culture of the African nation during its hardest times

GOOD TIMES, BAD TIMES: Even during the years of apartheid rule, the people of Namibia were able to enjoy themselves through their music (copyright: Dieter Hinrichs and John Liebenberg)

SOAS MUSIC is hosting an exhibition next month which chronicles the intimate stories, songs and experiences of those who shaped Namibian popular culture during some of the most repressive years of apartheid rule.

HISTORY
Stolen Moments–Namibian Music History Untold (1950-80s), is curated by Namibian and German scholars, film-makers and photographers.

The exhibition includes, among its extensive collection, major photographic works by Stephan Zaubitzer, a 90-minute documentary film that revisits the dance styles of the 1950s-80s, 14 listening stations featuring nine different radio stations, including a selection of more than 100 hours of interviews with musicians and contemporary witnesses, and a large collection of archival photographs of bands, record covers and music memorabilia profiling Namibia’s much under-represented musical subcultures.

VIBRANT CULTURE: The exhibition chronicles the intimate stories, songs and experiences of those who shaped Namibian popular culture (Image: Copyright Dieter Hinrichs and John Liebenberg)
MUSICAL: One of the images on display at the SOAS exhibition (Image: Copyright Dieter Hinrichs and John Liebenberg)

Catch Stolen Moments–Namibian Music History Untold (1950-80s) from July 11 – September 21 at The Brunei Gallery, SOAS, University of London Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, Bloomsbury, London WC1H 0XG

Related events

July 12: Public Panel discussion: The panel will focus on the work made by British musicians in the 1980s in support of the anti-apartheid movement. Specifically, it will focus on the making of the track The Winds of Change (1986) by Robert Wyatt and the SWAPO Singers, which called for liberation in Namibia.

July 13: Exhibition walkabout and Improv workshop led by celebrated jazz musicians based on music sampled from the Stolen Moments collection.

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