The vision and editorial choices underlying the UNESCO LP series An Anthology of African Music resulted from intense negotiations between Paul Collaer, the series’s general editor, and Alain Daniélou, the director of the International Institute for Comparative Music Studies and Documentation (IICMSD), which edited the collection for UNESCO. During the preparation of the records, tensions arose over editorial decisions, as Daniélou’s and UNESCO’s aesthetic approach, favoring artistic refinement and high audio quality, conflicted with Collaer’s documentary focus and recognition of the cultural significance of certain repertoires. This article examines the origin, development, and conclusion of the first part of this record series (1964-1969) and analyzes the negotiations and conflicts surrounding the preparation of specific albums. The tensions regarding the collection’s editorial choices shed light on discussions within ethnomusicology and across institutions focused on traditional musics, as well as on broader perspectives related to international music policies, visions, and priorities in promoting African musics.
Linda Cimardi (Wed,) studied this question.