The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of July 8, 2026

A square digital graphic predominantly features a dark, shadowy palette. Three small, dark wooden figurines with rings around their waists and ankles are centered against a black background. Faintly rendered, oversized masks with large circular eyes loom in the dark space behind them. In the bottom left corner, stark white text reads TIES THAT BIND above CHANNEL 5, while the name EMEKA OGBOH appears in small, muted gray letters on our right.

Ties That Bind (Channel 5)

2019

Emeka Ogboh

(Nigerian, b. 1977)
Nigeria
Multichannel electronic sound composition; 21 minutes, 56 seconds
Sundry Art - Miscellaneous Fund 2019.34.e
© 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.e