The Palestinian Sound Archive was founded by Mo’min Swaitat in 2019 but is comprised of and supported by freelance visual and sound artists, musicians, DJs, curators, organisers and researchers, without whom the work would not be possible. This event explores archival practice as a decolonial methodology and act of resistance, through sharing archival sounds and images that preserve and document Palestinian heritage, culture, celebrating, dance and resistance.
The Palestinian Sound Archive is determined to preserve Palestinian audio history through different mediums: by re-releasing music/sound recordings (in physical and digital formats), through club nights and radio sets, through audio-visual installations, live performances and storytelling sessions which situate the music in their cultural, social and political contexts. They share stories through live performances: “Inside the Palestinian Sound Archive”, focused on different musicians, and the wider music industry, including tales of how they made and distributed their work in the face of displacement, censorship, exile, persecution, arrests, the First and Second Intifadas and other major events.
