Twenty-seven annual editions have appeared. We also publish the proceedings of the Symposia on Ethnomusicology held annually in southern Africa since 1980. It preserves historical recordings going back to 1929, all of Hugh Tracey's recordings and many from other researchers, and makes them available to musicians and researchers. Music is an essential part of African self-consciousness. Materials from ILAM are widely used in education in South Africa and many other parts of the world.
Many African cultures are the equivalent of 'endangered species'.
Research has been piecemeal. ILAM also publishes occasional papers, books and films about African music and oral and performing arts.