Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SONIETHIO (SONIETHIO. SONIC ETHNOGRAPHIES, ITALIAN COLONIALISM, AND DIGNITY RESTITUTIONS)
Reporting period: 2023-09-01 to 2025-08-31
The project deals primarily with the history of Italian occupation of Ethiopia (1936-41) and its durable effects on cultural heritage. More specifically, the project aims at focusing on a collection of sounds and songs carried out by the Italian military and media organisations in the timeframe of 1938-39. More than 200 songs were recorded at that time. However, no archive had the possibility to collect and preserve such documentation.
Therefore, the first main goal of the project is to build again such archive and make it available for research and discussions. Furthermore, the project aims at developing a collective investigation on the role of such archive both for the Ethiopian cultural heritage and for the Italian colonial legacy. For this goal, collective listening sessions and public discussions will be organized and held in Ethiopia. The concept of dignity restitution will be therefore implemented and discussed, as the main goal is to use the archive to activate a broader reflection on colonial entanglements.
From the perspective of the sound studies research, the project aims to use the sound archives collected during the Italian occupation in Ethiopia in order to 1) conduct extensive field research within a participatory approach; 2) analyse the role of sounds in creating and conserving a colonial heritage; 3) implement a historical analysis of the azmari tradition through an intergenerational perspective; 4) develop an evaluation of the dignity takings and the activities of dignity restitutions that can be implemented; 5) introducing a reflection of the role of sounds in the memory of the colonial past within the Italian context.
Therefore, the first main goal of the project is to build again such archive and make it available for research and discussions. Furthermore, the project aims at developing a collective investigation on the role of such archive both for the Ethiopian cultural heritage and for the Italian colonial legacy. For this goal, collective listening sessions and public discussions will be organized and held in Ethiopia. The concept of dignity restitution will be therefore implemented and discussed, as the main goal is to use the archive to activate a broader reflection on colonial entanglements.
From the perspective of the sound studies research, the project aims to use the sound archives collected during the Italian occupation in Ethiopia in order to 1) conduct extensive field research within a participatory approach; 2) analyse the role of sounds in creating and conserving a colonial heritage; 3) implement a historical analysis of the azmari tradition through an intergenerational perspective; 4) develop an evaluation of the dignity takings and the activities of dignity restitutions that can be implemented; 5) introducing a reflection of the role of sounds in the memory of the colonial past within the Italian context.
The project has already been able to trace the whole archive and to digitize.
Additionally, historical and ethnographic research has been conducted to provide context and metadata related to the collection.
The task of collective discussion and musical gatherings has been also carried on. The research has been able to create a group of musicians, artists, activists, social worker who are interested in the theme of the project and in discussing issue related to the Italian occupation and cultural heritage using the sound archive as a prompt
More seminar will be organized in spring 2025 and a final exhibition will be held in October 2025.
Additionally, historical and ethnographic research has been conducted to provide context and metadata related to the collection.
The task of collective discussion and musical gatherings has been also carried on. The research has been able to create a group of musicians, artists, activists, social worker who are interested in the theme of the project and in discussing issue related to the Italian occupation and cultural heritage using the sound archive as a prompt
More seminar will be organized in spring 2025 and a final exhibition will be held in October 2025.
SONIETHIO is a project that aims to contribute to several scientific sectors. Ethnomusicology, anthropology, and cultural studies are most directly involved in the project design. Within these field, the goal of the project is to make a significant impact on the level of developing innovative methodologies based on sounds archive repatriation, participative models, and dignity restitutions.
In addition, the project will also have an impact on postcolonial studies – with a specific impact on the study of Italian colonialism and its specificities, both in terms of its chronology and its form.
Simultaneously, the project’s impact goes beyond the academic sector, as it provides space for important conversations and discussions on the cultural impact of entangled histories and on dignity restitutions related to music and colonialism
In addition, the project will also have an impact on postcolonial studies – with a specific impact on the study of Italian colonialism and its specificities, both in terms of its chronology and its form.
Simultaneously, the project’s impact goes beyond the academic sector, as it provides space for important conversations and discussions on the cultural impact of entangled histories and on dignity restitutions related to music and colonialism