Wandering Songs | About Us
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About Us

this is who we are

Music moves us, both metaphorically and literally. It is an art in which emotion is expressed; it helps us to share feelings, tell stories, educate and commemorate. This is especially important in (post-) conflict situations, where issues of trust often come up. Through music, people can speak about these issues and their past experiences with conflict, insecurity and violence: topics which are not often discussed publically. By incorporating these narratives into songs, music enables people to address sensitive issues and document events. In this way, music can evoke memories, bring people together and create new connections. By creating a platform for artists, the Wandering Songs project can be part of this process. It gives people the opportunity to tell their own stories -in music- and make others aware of matters they deem important. Wandering Songs started in August 2013 with ‘Ugandan Recordings’; 111 songs and video clips were recorded in the northern part of Uganda over a period of eight months. The project took place in an area that is heavily affected by twenty years of conflict, which left tremendous scars on the lives of ordinary people. Many of the recorded songs relate to this period of violence and enabled artists to openly discuss their experiences with conflict. The recorded songs and videos are gathered on the website www.ugandanrecordings.com and so far attracted over 100.000 viewers.
By creating a platform for artists, the Wandering Songs project can be part of this process. It gives people the opportunity to tell their own stories -in music- and make others aware of matters they deem important.
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countries

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videos

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cups of tea

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artists

our team

Meet our enthusiastic crew.

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Evert Aalten

audio and production
EVERT DANIEL AALTEN is musician and studio engineer (Scandal Studios), making field recordings all over the world. Evert spent three months in Jamaica, where he recorded reggae music in Kingston with i.a. Sly & Robbie, Sugar Minott and Kiddus I. For ‘Boot Recordings’, he travels through Europe with a mobile studio, recording singer/songwriters on tape from the boot of a car.
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Karin van Bemmel

research and communication
KARIN VAN BEMMEL is a cultural anthropologist and has undertaken fieldwork in Guatemala, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the Centre for Studies in African Humanities, Ghent University, focusing on local discourses and the conceptualization of nodding syndrome in northern Uganda. Karin spent fifteen months in Kitgum.
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Sjors Swierstra

video and montage
SJORS SWIERSTRA is an independent filmmaker who has produced several well-received documentaries. His latest documentary ‘The World According to Monsieur Khiar’ was selected for the IDFA Competition for Dutch Documentary 2015. Sjors is currently filming and editing the Wandering Songs from refugees and asylum seekers in the Netherlands.
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Erik van Bemmel

creative artwork and marketing
ERIK VAN BEMMEL -born in Kenya- is graphic designer and photographer. He graduated in sports and marketing, completed a two-year study in the field of web-design and is now enrolled at the school of photography (‘Fotovakschool’) in Amsterdam. He is currently having exhibitions in Amersfoort.

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