Flyways Field Research

A primary goal of Flyways is to learn from indigenous cultures, and to build new musical collaborations across cultures. To date, musical collaborations have taken place in thirteen of the sixteen countries of the migration route (click to learn more): South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Israel, Lebanon, Bulgaria, Turkey and Russia.

Musicians from the Nakibembe community, 
Uganda, playing akadinda


Members of the Arbore tribe from the 
Arbore region, Ethiopia


Wagogo musicians from the Dodoma 
region of Tanzania


Sekuru Nyaraezi with his sons playing mbira, 
Tete province, Mozambique


The Masengai Timbila Group, in Zavala, 
Mozambique


Venancio Mbanda's timbila orchestra, 
in Quissico, near Zavala, Mozambique

Much of the diversity of music recorded on the field recording expeditions is in decline, in the custody of a few elders, with the next generation not sufficiently interested to carry on the traditions. The importance of not only documenting these traditions but also helping revive their vitality was deeply underscored.

Project field recordings were made using a new system, especially designed by veteran wilderness recording engineer Mickey Houlihan (Wind Over the Earth, Inc.). The system captures the full depth and amazing complexity of polyphonic traditions, such as the amadinda music from Uganda and the Chopi xylophones of Mozambique, with probably the first multi-track recordings ever made of these.