麻豆约拍

鈥淒ivorces were happening on these cassette tapes鈥� And the messenger wouldn't know that there had been a divorce recorded on this cassette tape, so when they got to the partner and offered them the cassette tape and it was played they were the unwilling participant in this divorce.鈥�

Nowadays we鈥檙e so linked up - via whatsapp, email, phone calls. But how did people stay connected in the days before the mobile phone?

In Somalia 鈥� from the 1970s to 90s 鈥搕he cassette tape was a crucial tool for sending messages 鈥� especially to family members who had fled to other countries after war broke out.

Letter tapes were used for verbal love letters, regular family updates, to plan political resistance 鈥� and even as a means of divorce.

Now a Somali feminist art group called Dhaqan Collective (@DhaqanC) - based in Bristol in South West England - is using these tapes as a way to explore Somali history and culture in a project called Camel Meat & Cassette Tapes.

They鈥檝e also used cassettes as a vehicle to encourage young Somalis to record interviews with their older family members 鈥� and so to connect with their history and traditions.

For Africa Daily, Mpho Lakaje speaks with two members of the collective.

With thanks to producer @layla_mood

Show less