Digitization for an Ethnographic Musical Instrument Collection

Abstract

The article discusses the co-design and co-creation of digital tools for re-sounding a colonial musical instrument collection, exploring how music technology supports decolonization and enriches curatorial narratives. In ReSoXy: Re-Sounding the Xylophone Collections of RMCA (2023–2026), the project aims to rediscover and revitalize the sounds and performance practices of the manza xylophone, a declined musical heritage of the Azande. With contributions from musicians, instrument makers and ICT experts, ReSoXy developed various virtual and MIDI instruments to emulate the manza listening and playing experiences. These tools are the agencies of co-creation and knowledge sharing, as they enable online collaboration with musicians –particularly in northern DRC – to create new music compositions for the declining manza culture, and foster dialogues on intangible cultural heritage preservation. The article reflects on the results of digitization of a museum musical collection, and to promote the decentralization of heritage research.