Inkomo

In conversation with Gilles Aubry, Thokozani Mhlambi examines early loudspeaker broadcasting systems in South Africa alongside African genealogies of listening. His research traces the cultural significance of inkomo (cow) and its diverse uses prior to colonialism among Zulu-speaking African communities, offering new perspectives on early listening practices. Drawing on the writings of H.I.E. Dhlomo, Mhlambi proposes that broadcasting technology can be understood as an extension of the traditional use of cow horns to announce news. Original sound work: Inkomo (2025, 14:12) by Thokozani Mhlambi — featuring cow horns played as wind instruments. Subterranean Changes is a Parastatal sound series focusing on genealogies of experimental music and sonic engagement beyond western modernism. The goal is to enable new conversations on race and technology through shared listening sessions and critical sound practice. Sound, noise, and the inaudible provide the stuff for a reshaping of the intersections between time, place and being.