Survival Kit: A Musicscape of West-Africa (1970s–1980s)

When Ken Aïcha Sy invited us to participate in her exhibition, “Survival Kit” – which is shown from November 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026 at ifa Gallery Stuttgart–, we immediately thought of creating a mixtape to accompany the Senegalese paintings from the post-independence decades – and provide a soundtrack to the exhibition.
We were intrigued by the emergence of a new sound in the 1960s, connected to Senegal’s independence. Its softness and slow rhythms were a far cry from the lively, fast-paced sound Senegalese music is generally known for. This new sound was not as percussion-dominated as mbalax would become later on; it was Latin-infused and mixed with reggae and pop. It also contains elements of traditional African music, resulting in an electrified, pop-infused African modernity with spiritual depth. This music was also transnational, connected to other musical developments in neighboring coastal countries. In our mixtape, we trace the music from Senegal to Angola, creating a special musicscape of West Africa from the 1970s to the 1980s.

More information: https://after.berlin/

More information on the exhibition context: https://www.ifa.de/en/exhibition/survival-kit/