Living Legacies Archive

Living Legacies is a project that was set up to document and archive the traditional music of Gambia and West Africa through field recordings, archival footage, photographs and audio recordings. It was founded and created by composer and Kora player, Tunde Jegede together with the film-maker and visual artist, Sunara Begum.

The collection is taken from Tunde Jegede’s own personal rare recordings, photographs and artefacts gathered over the last 30 years. These include filmed performances and interviews with some legendary master Kora players of the past including, Amadu Bansang Jobarteh, Jali Nyama Suso and Alhagie Bai Konteh.
In 2014, Tunde returned to Gambia. He, together with filmmaker, Sunara Begum conducted a series of field recordings documenting the new generation of Gambian Traditional artists paying tribute to their predecessors. These recordings are presented in the archive alongside archival recordings of the past to celebrate, encourage and promote this music as part of a living tradition.

The Living Legacies Archive features the traditional musicians of Gambia both past and present. Through its collection of recordings, archive footage and photographs from the 70’s to the present day, the Living Legacies Archive is an essential cultural resource and the first of its kind in West Africa.

The recordings and footage include performances by Gambian Kora players, Amadu Bansang Jobarteh, Alhagie Bai Konteh and Jali Nyama Suso. There are interviews on Gambian culture and the state of the Jaliya Tradition with interviewees including that of Sidia Jatta, Tata Dindin, Alhagie Pampo Jobarteh and Lala Konteh.

The archive also has an exhibition of photographs which are an integral part of the project.