Music archives are not just digital time capsules—they are living repositories of sound and memory. Old recordings and sonic memories connect new generations to poetic, melodic, and rhythmic traditions that have shaped the region’s identity over decades, or sometimes centuries. They also reflect the rich history and stories of what each place has gone through. This is where the importance of archives comes in; in our current climate, they are more vital than ever—they unveil cultural trajectories, safeguard traditions, and spark new creative dialogues.

As the UNESCO emphasizes, audiovisual documents play a crucial role in protecting humanity’s linguistic and cultural diversity. Unlike written records, they authentically capture and reproduce spoken language, music, oral histories, and rituals—preserving these fleeting moments for study, inspiration, and the pleasure of future generations. These original recordings are key documents of the region’s creative and cultural heritage.

Here are five archives across the Arab world that specialize in preserving our shared musical history.

• Sawt Asura (Voice of the Image)

From wedding songs celebrating the bride and groom, to lullabies whispered to soothe children at night, the voices of Saudi women have long carried the melodies of daily life. Yet, much of this musical heritage risks fading from memory. This is where Sawt Asura (“Voice of the Image”) steps in.

Founded in 2020 by researcher-artist Tara Aldughaither, the Saudi-based platform seeks to preserve and reactivate women’s musical traditions. Collaborating with local artists, researchers, and communities, Sawt Asura collects and archives audiovisual recordings of folk songs and performances by women—ensuring they are documented to remain part of the cultural narrative.

Find out more about this platform at https://sawtasura.org

• Syrian Cassette Archive 

From the 1970s to the early 2000s, Syria’s cassette era reshaped the country’s musical landscape. During that period, cassettes became the primary medium for local, regional, and national recordings—giving a platform to folk and pop musicians whose sounds rarely travelled beyond their communities. The growing collection reflects Syria’s rich cultural diversity, with music from Syrian Arabs, Assyrians, Kurds, Armenians, and displaced Iraqi artists.

Founded in 2018 by producer-archivists Mark Gergis and producer Yamen Mekdad, Syrian Cassette Archives digitizes and shares this repertoire online. Featuring curated audio, interviews, and written works, the archive continues to preserve and celebrate the vibrant sounds and memories that define the region’s rich musical history.

Explore the archive at syriancassettearchives.org

• Arabic Independent Music Archive (AIMA)

In the ever-expanding world of independent Arabic music, AIMA has emerged as a platform dedicated to documenting, visualizing, and connecting artists across the region. What began as founder Fady Gerges Helmy’s university research project has evolved into a dynamic archive mapping the evolution of the Arab world’s independent music scene.

AIMA offers interactive tools—from artist profiles and geographical mapping to industry insights—bridging artistic expression and cultural preservation. Its multidisciplinary team, supported by the Egyptian cluster of the EU National Institutes for Culture, ensures rigorous data validation to document musicians’ identities, genres, and connections.

As it grows beyond Egypt into Lebanon and Palestine, AIMA is building a collaborative space where independent Arabic music is documented and celebrated, in addition to allowing communities across the Arab world to connect, and ensuring the availability of these records for future generations. 

Explore this archive at aima.website

• Sudan Tapes Archive 

Established in 2020 by Sudanese-American artist and archivist Haneen Sidahmed, the Sudan Tapes Archive is an initiative focused on safeguarding Sudan’s sonic heritage. By digitizing Sudanese cassettes and media—many sourced from Sidahmed’s own family collections—the project preserves collective memory and reconnects Sudanese communities across borders with one of the world’s most vibrant and diverse musical traditions.

So far, the archive has preserved over 50 albums, spanning the works of Sharhabel Ahmed, known as ‘The King of Sudanese Jazz’ to the beloved sounds of Al Balabil, showcasing the depth and richness of Sudanese music.

To learn more about this initiative, visit their website at https://www.sudantapesarchive.com

• Egyptian Cassette Archive 

Founded in 2020 by Amr Hamid, the Egyptian Cassette Archive is a research project dedicated to archiving and preserving Egypt’s cassette cover designs. While it doesn’t document audio recordings, the archive offers a unique glimpse into what people listened to across different eras by focusing on the visual culture of cassette tapes and the designers behind them.

To date, the project has documented over 250 covers, spanning early works by artists like Abd El Baset Hamoda and Hoda Ammar, as well as iconic movie soundtracks such as Mohamed Henedi’s Kamannana. It uncovers the aesthetic and cultural value of this facet of Egypt’s musical history—an invitation to rediscover music through design and reflect on the creativity of the era.

You can check out this archive here https://www.instagram.com/egyptiancassettearchive?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==