Established in 1991, the African Music Archive based at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz contains a unique collection of modern African music on records of various formats (including shellac and vinyl records, audio and video cassettes, CDs and DVDs). The archive currently holds around 18,000 sound recordings, some of which date back to the 1940s.
The archive hosts music from all African countries. The collection continues to be built up through donations and acquisitions. Additionally, thousands of newspaper clippings (articles, reports, interviews, record reviews, etc.) offer a large pool of background material that can be consulted on site. Beyond its academic work, the AMA sees itself as an institution that wants to make information on African music accessible to a broader public.
The AMA's shellac and tape recordings have been digitized and are available for listenting in the AMA's premises. The AMA Lounge invites listeners to enjoy playlists of African music.