The British Library reconnects historical recordings of cultural songs and stories to the people of Solomon Islands through the National Museum.
High Commissioner Thomas Coward handed over the kit to Deputy Director of the National Museum Lawrence Kiko.
As part of the True Echoes project, the British Library and the Solomon Islands National Museum have co-researched digitised wax cylinder recordings from the British Library collection that were made in Solomon Islands between 1908 and 1914.
These recordings contain significant music, stories, speeches as important cultural records. These document the oral traditions, cultural rituals, and history of Simbo, Rannonga and across Malaita.
Through the True Echoes project, the British Library has donated audio equipment to the Solomon Islands National Museum to make these digital recordings accessible to the people of Solomon Islands.
British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands His Excellency Thomas Coward presented the equipment to Deputy Director of the National Museum, Lawrence Kiko, who upon receiving the kit, said:
The museum is so thankful to receive the equipment as it will certainly enhance recording on both culture and historical stories around focus communities in Solomon Islands through the True Echoes Participatory research project in partnership with the British Library and the Solomon Islands National Museum. Thanks to the British High Commissioner, His Excellency Thomas Coward, for his moral support towards the project. The equipment handover this morning marks another milestone in the development of cultural preservation programs in terms of digitizing and pl