Singing Wells is an ongoing field recording project working with communities across East Africa to document and share their musical traditions, recognising the people who keep these practices alive. This monthly section is dedicated to its fifteen years of work and fieldwork across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, introducing the artists, elders and younger musicians involved in the sessions and focusing on the skills, stories and community knowledge they bring to each recording. Each instalment presents one of the project’s contributors and shows how their participation shapes the wider archive and its connection to the region.
At the core of Singing Wells is a collaboration between Abubilla Music in London and Ketebul Music in Kenya, supported by The Abubilla Music Foundation. The project records, archives and shares traditional music across East Africa, working with communities to sustain and celebrate the region’s cultural heritage and ensure these practices remain active for present audiences.
The team brings together sound and video engineers, producers and musicians who work directly with artists in their home settings. Their approach encourages the continued practice of local traditions, supports open access to the recordings and strengthens the visibility of musicians across the region. Through this, the project builds a living archive and keeps regional knowledge in use for future generations.
HERE you can read our interview with the founders Tabu Osusa of Ketebul Music (Nairobi) and James (Jimmy) Allen of Abubilla Music.
You can learn more about Singing Wells by watching THIS VIDEO
Explore the project’s platforms and recordings through the links below:
