The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of July 8, 2026

A square-oriented digital graphic depicts three wooden figures in the center. Two have dark brown, carved bodies with white wraps around their waists; a third, ghostly blue figure stands behind them. Streaks of blue pigment trail from their feet. The dark background is filled with faint, oversized, shadowy mask-like forms. At the bottom left, white text reads "TIES THAT BIND CHANNEL 3," and "EMEKA OGBOH" appears at the bottom right.

Ties That Bind (Channel 3)

2019

Emeka Ogboh

(Nigerian, b. 1977)
Nigeria
Multichannel electronic sound composition; 21 minutes, 56 seconds
Sundry Art - Miscellaneous Fund 2019.34.c
© Emeka Ogboh
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

It is the first time a museum’s collection has directly inspired the artist’s work.

Description

Ties That Bind is an electronic composition designed to create ambient sounds for the CMA’s African art collection. It comprises digitally manipulated soundscapes of flowing water, water waves, a creaking boat, the strumming of mbira (thumb piano), staccato bass, tone, and slap of the djembe (drum), electronic drum, ichaka (rattle), voice chants, and spoken word. The multisensory work creates a soothing ambience, re-energizing the otherwise sedentary historical objects by adding an animated contemporary feel to the African gallery.

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2019.34.c