Natasha Ginwala and Tabu Osusa, Nairobi-based producer, composer and founder of Singing Wells, dive into the group’s decolonial mission to platform and preserve East African music. Committed to safeguarding cultural heritage and sound-based storytelling traditions, they travel to remote villages with a mobile recording studio. Their SB16 commission titled Sonic Inheritances (2025) gives a glimpse into a vast archive of rare interviews and performance videos. Listen to an excerpt of the Benga song ‘Flora’ by the Sega Sega band and experience the sound of the nyatiti, an instrument from Western Kenya, in ‘Ukalo Matek’ by Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno. 

Sonic Inheritances is on view at Bait Al Serkal from 6 February until 15 June 2025. 

CREDITS 

Host: Natasha Ginwala 

Guest: Tabu Osusa 

Editorial and Content Strategy: Jyoti Dhar, Kamayani Sharma and Mahshid Rafiei

Podcast Producer: Kamayani Sharma

Sound Producer: Basil Kisswani 

Shownotes: Rajwant Sandhu and Suguna Sridhar

Music and Sound: Excerpts from 'Flora' by the Sega Sega band and 'Ukalo Matek' by Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno 

Special Thanks: Nawar Al Qassimi, Jiwon Lee, Amal Al Ali and Osemudiamen Ekore 

© Sharjah Art Foundation, 2025 

This episode was recorded on 19 November 2024.

Sonic Inheritances is commissioned by Sharjah Art Foundation and Bergen Assembly.