A Composed Archive

Neo Muyanga speaks about how his work as a composer and his research on African idiomatic songs has informed his interest in opera and its various manifestations in South Africa. He shares the process of working as composer and librettist on the recently premiered The Bacchae: An African Choral Ballet, and how designing soundscapes for exhibitions and films has allowed him to connect the visual and sonic realms in new and unexpected ways. Mentioned in this episode: Madrigal tradition in Italy Musique concrète Sidney Poitier ‘The Bacchae: An African Choral Ballet’ (Joburg Theatre, 2026) Sparagmos Nietzche and the abyss ‘Of Mimicry and Man: The Ambivalence of Colonial Discourse’ (Homi Bhabha, 1984) Miriam Makeba Abdullah Ibrahim ‘When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration on Painting’ exhibition (Zeitz Mocaa Museum, 2022) ‘Milisuthando’ (Milisuthando Bongela, 2023) To find out more about Neo’s work, visit the Centre for the Less Good Idea’s website. Music for the JCAF Knowledge Talks podcast was commissioned by JCAF. ‘INGWENYA’, performed by the Afrikan Freedom Principle, led by Mandla Mlangeni, © MM Publishing. Website URL: ⁠⁠⁠⁠jcaf.org.za⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠foundation_jcaf