IASA-BAAC 2026 Conference

Name: Sound Archives and Colonial Memory: Preserving Malagasy Musical Heritage (1900–1960)
Start: 2026-10-20T12:00:00+0300
End: 2026-10-20T12:30:00+0300

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Sound Archives and Colonial Memory: Preserving Malagasy Musical Heritage (1900–1960)

Tuesday October 20, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm EEST

Events hall: Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania: Great Hall

This paper examines the role of early sound archives in the construction, preservation, and representation of Malagasy musical heritage during the colonial period (1900–1960). It focuses on how sound recordings—produced through scientific missions, colonial exhibitions, and early commercial initiatives—have contributed to shaping both historical memory and contemporary understandings of Malagasy music.

The study addresses the following questions: how were Malagasy musical forms selected, recorded, and archived during the colonial period? To what extent do these sound archives reflect processes of preservation, and how do they also embody forms of cultural selection, transformation, or bias? Drawing on archival recordings, historical documents, and ethnomusicological analysis, this research explores the contexts in which these recordings were produced and later preserved.

Many of the earliest recordings of Malagasy music were carried out by European ethnographers, colonial institutions, and foreign record companies. These actors played a decisive role in determining which musical forms were recorded and transmitted, often privileging certain genres while excluding others. As a result, these archives do not represent a neutral or complete record of Malagasy musical practices but rather a selective construction shaped by technological, institutional, and political factors.

Technical constraints, including recording duration and early equipment limitations, also influenced the content and structure of recorded material. Furthermore, the processes of archiving and preservation have contributed to stabilizing certain representations of Malagasy music, transforming them into reference points for both research and cultural heritage.

By analyzing sound archives as both historical sources and cultural artifacts, this paper argues that they play a dual role: they preserve musical heritage while simultaneously shaping its interpretation and transmission. In this sense, sound archives are not only tools of conservation but also active agents in the construction of cultural memory.

This study contributes to ongoing discussions on audiovisual archiving, colonial knowledge production, and the preservation of intangible cultural heritage. It highlights the importance of critically engaging with sound archives in order to better understand their role in mediating between past musical practices and present-day interpretations.

Speakers

Jocelyn SOLONJATOVO

Doctoral candidate, University of Antananarivo (Madagascar) Doctoral candidate

Jocelyn Solonjatovo holds a Master’s degree in History (2025) from the University of Antananarivo, with a thesis on Betsileo musical and oral heritage (1900–1976). He previously completed a Master 1 in History (2009) on record culture in Madagascar (1900–1960). A researcher... Read More →

Tuesday October 20, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm EEST
Events hall: Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania: Great Hall

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IASA-BAAC 2026 Conference

Jocelyn SOLONJATOVO

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Jocelyn SOLONJATOVO

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