King of the mo(u)rning

Cities and Memory - remixing the world

Morning dawn in Tirana, Albania. The recordist, who has migrated from Tirana to Berlin for studies, returns to visit family. During this visit, they cannot fall asleep because of the sound of a lion roaring nearby. Balcony recording: morning rooster, other background animal sounds possibly dogs, at some point the main reason i cannot sleep: the lion downstairs caged in the zoo.
The recording relates to migration thematically as it captures the experience of the recordist, who has moved from Greece to Albania and then migrated to Germany to pursue opportunities abroad. The encounter with the tough picture of the caged lion, a creature typically associated with different geographical regions, highlights the displacement and disorientation experienced by migrants in unfamiliar environments. It also wants to bring awareness in more-than-human perspectives of displacement and freedom of movement.
The sound of the lion roaring in the vicinity of the recordist's home in Tirana serves as a metaphorical and literal wake-up call. It prompts the recordist to contemplate their own sense of belonging and identity in the context of migration. The juxtaposition of the familiar sound of the rooster signaling morning with the unexpected presence of the lion creates a surreal and thought-provoking atmosphere. The lion often called the king of the jungle-is roaring together with the morning-specialist-rooster in the dawn in a city where it does not belong.
The recordist may experience a mix of emotions, including surprise, nostalgia, anger and introspection. The sudden encounter with the lion symbolizes the complexities and challenges of migration, stirring feelings of displacement and questioning of one's place in the world. The presence of the caged lion also evokes a sense of vulnerability, injustice and interconnectedness with the natural world, prompting reflection on humanity's relationship with nature in the context of migration. Being awake in this time of the day i reflect on the human impact on our surroundings and questioning the concept of "home". Who is the migrant in this story? Is there a winner in the story or a king of the mo(u)rning?
Recorded in Tirana, Albania by Ili Os.
Part of the Migration Sounds project, the world’s first collection of the sounds of human migration.
For more information and to explore the project, see https://www.citiesandmemory.com/migration