Indiana University houses one of the largest collections of Somali materials in the world. Library materials include books, serials, textbooks, reports, microfilms, government publications, pamphlets, posters, maps, and audiovisual materials. The collection of sound recordings in the Archives of Traditional Music is a unique and important segment of these holdings. Large collections have been deposited by B.W. Andrzejewski and John William Johnson. A substantial number of tapes have also been deposited by Cabdullaahi Diiriye Guuleed, Axmed Cali Abokor, Axmed Cartan Xange, Chester Williams, Cynthia Tse Kimberlin, and Wolf Leslau. The largest deposit of materials came in 1993 when, with the assistance of a grant from the United States Department of Education, Indiana University purchased copies of the British Broadcasting Corporation's extensive Somali archives and poetry collection. Its holdings include taped poetry and other literature, as well as interviews with Somali historical personalities, other historical recordings, and linguistic materials. The BBC Somali Section has been in service since the early 1950s, and this collection, together with the existing Somali holdings in the Archives, represents perhaps the largest sound collection of Somali materials in the world. The Somali materials in the Archives of Traditional Music and at Indiana University render an important service to the Somali nation, which suffered the destruction of its national library and radio stations in recent armed conflict. They help to preserve Somali culture for its future generations.
107 S. Indiana Ave. Bloomington, IN 47405-7000 Phone: (812) 855-4848
Indiana University houses one of the largest collections of Somali materials in the world. Library materials include books, serials, textbooks, reports, microfilms, government publications, pamphlets, posters, maps, and audiovisual materials. The collection of sound recordings in the Archives of Traditional Music is a unique and important segment of these holdings. Large collections have been deposited by B.W. Andrzejewski and John William Johnson. A substantial number of tapes have also been deposited by Cabdullaahi Diiriye Guuleed, Axmed Cali Abokor, Axmed Cartan Xange, Chester Williams, Cynthia Tse Kimberlin, and Wolf Leslau. The largest deposit of materials came in 1993 when, with the assistance of a grant from the United States Department of Education, Indiana University purchased copies of the British Broadcasting Corporation's extensive Somali archives and poetry collection. Its holdings include taped poetry and other literature, as well as interviews with Somali historical personalities, other historical recordings, and linguistic materials. The BBC Somali Section has been in service since the early 1950s, and this collection, together with the existing Somali holdings in the Archives, represents perhaps the largest sound collection of Somali materials in the world. The Somali materials in the Archives of Traditional Music and at Indiana University render an important service to the Somali nation, which suffered the destruction of its national library and radio stations in recent armed conflict. They help to preserve Somali culture for its future generations.
