The 696 Resident Artists who sampled directly from the collection were Afronaut Zu, Richie and Roxanne Tataei. The inspiration they drew from the Horniman’s collections fed into their own work which was part of the 696 project platforming the best new Afrobeat, Jazz, Grime, Rap, R&B, Reggae and Soul music. Their samples are available for listening and downloading here.
Hear the Resident Artists talk about their experiences at the Horniman
Afronaut Zu
Afronaut Zu is a London-based solo artist and musical collective member. His sound and approach to music is largely shaped by cultural influences and life experiences growing up in Britain, whilst also being from the African diaspora.
Afronaut Zu sampled many instruments, including the udu, djembe, lamellaphone and more.
Udu, pot drum
Igbo culture, Nigeria, Africa.
Horniman Museum number: HC.2018.126
Djembe
West Africa
Horniman Museum number: HC.1999.1245
Tabla
North India.
Horniman Museum number: HC.2013.58 (dayan), HC.2019.14.1 (Bayan)
Glockenspiel
England, UK, circa 1890.
Horniman Museum number: MT550-1998
Wooden slit drum and beater
Possibly Zande culture, East Africa.
Horniman Museum numbers: M8-1981 and 27.70a
Lamellaphone
Makonde or Mwera culture, East Africa.
Horniman Museum number: M7.12.60/3
Lamellaphone, 22.25
Makonde or Mwera culture, East Africa, before 1922.
Horniman Museum number: 22.25
Balafon
Horniman Museum number: HC.2015.22.1
Clappers
Morrocco.
Horniman Museum number: HC.1999.1190
Richie Seivwright
Richie is a vocalist, trombonist and composer, born and raised in a British-Caribbean household in South East London. A classically trained musician, Richie has since the age of 16 been active on the London jazz scene, as well as performing as a sideman for international artists including Solange Knowles and Nick Waterhouse.
Richie sampled many instruments, including the lithophone, slit drum, double bell and more.
Iron Double bell and beater
Igbo culture, Nigeria, Africa.
Horniman Museum numbers: M6.12.65/63 and 27.70a
Lamellaphone
Makonde or Mwera culture, East Africa
Horniman Museum number: M7.12.60/3
Lithophone
Cumbria, England, UK, 19th century.
Horniman Museum number: M14.7.55. Played with modern beaters
Wooden slit drum and beater
Possibly Zande culture, East Africa
Horniman Museum numbers: M8-1981 and 27.70a
Roxanne Tataei
Roxanne is a musician, composer and performance artist from South London. Having supported artists on tour including Grace Jones and Florence & The Machine, collaborating with Mark Ronson, Paul Weller and more, and releasing critically acclaimed works, Roxanne is currently exploring her main instrument, the voice, through opera and free-form.
Roxanne’s samples are of the Harpsichord. Made by Jacob Kirckman, London, 1772. Horniman Museum number: 1972.211
Harpsichord
The reference pitch of the harpsichord played here is not modern concert pitch (a’=440Hz) but is the widely used and accepted standard for modern Baroque performances using ‘authentic’ or historic instruments – one semitone lower. It is a’=415Hz.
The single 8 foot samples are the sound of one string being played on its own, while the double 8 foot samples are louder as they include two strings of the same pitch being played at once. The buffed lute stop has a set of leather pads pushed against the sounding lengths of the strings to make them sound damped.
Double 8 Foot Strings
Lute Stop Buffed
Single 8 foot