Since this project was launched, we developed a partnership with the French National Library (BnF) in Paris and Counterpoints, a London-based NGO supporting the arts by and about refugees and migrants. Through this relationship, we were able to propose and discuss several ways of collaboration around our research activities. But both partners were particularly involved in the production and distribution of podcasts with scholars and artists, related to the 1932 Cairo Congress.

The Sound, Video and Multimedia Department of the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) is the heir to two institutions: the Archives de la Parole and the Phonothèque nationale.

In the 1920s, the Archives de la Parole became the Musée de la Parole et du Geste and expanded its collections to include folklore and musical traditions, whereas the Phonothèque Nationale was created in 1938 to ensure the legal deposit of phonograms distributed in France.

In 1935, King Fouad I of Egypt presented with a copy of the Cairo Arab Music Congress collection on 78 rpm records to the Musée de la Parole et du Geste. These recordings were not accessible for decades until the French National Library published them entirely, for the first time, in 2015.

Consequently, we conducted interviews mainly with the key French scholars and experts involved in the original recordings analysis, restoration, digitization, and publication of this 80 years old MENA music heritage. 

To date, BnF’s sound collections include more than 1.6 million documents on all media, divided into unpublished or archival documents, and documents from phonographic publishing. The collections cover linguistics, sociolinguistics, ethnography, history and ethnomusicology, as well as all existing musical genres.

Counterpoints Arts is a leading national organisation in the field of arts, migration and cultural change, at the intersection of climate, racial justice, mental health and displacement. This London-based charity supports the arts by and about refugees and migrants. It produces a range of programmes in the UK and internationally, including Refugee Week, PopChange and Platforma festival.   

They believe that arts can inspire social change, enhance inclusion and cultural integration of refugees and migrants, seeking to ensure that their contributions are recognized and welcomed within British arts, history and culture.  

Together with Counterpoints, we attend shared activities and involve their network of practising artists, musicians and cultural producers in our research project when relevant, mainly through our residences, workshops and podcasts.  

Our research seen through their eyes on their website.