‘Finding the Forgotten Graduate’ is a massive ten-part digital storytelling campaign that takes us back in time to honour the pioneering intellectuals whose stories have almost entirely been omitted from our history books. Introducing us, to among others, the very first South African of colour to get a degree, the campaign uncovers South African history that has been hidden for over a century. Howard Audio was responsible for crafting the composition, sound-design and final-mix of the audio for this groundbreaking project and thanks to him and the whole team involved, the rest is history.

Directed by Tebza Malope of The Star Film Company for PPS Insurance, ‘Finding the Forgotten Graduate’ consists of two commercial films that top and tail a total of ten audio stories, each averaging 3 mins in duration. Adam Howard wrote bespoke solo piano music for every single piece, including sound design and 10 different VO’s narrating each audio piece that introduces us to historic figures on an interactive website.

Here’s a small taste of the campaign, but y’all, you HAVE TO visit TheForgottenGraduate.co.za. to best experience the magnitude of this project. The way Adam’s music and sound design guides you through the interactive timeline is truly a historical treasure #ClappingWildly

Adam said: ‘It was a brief like we’d never had before. It was almost like composing a whole movie, made up of different scenes reflecting a series of graduates of colour who had deliberately been sidelined from the mainstream South African history narrative. Working hand in glove with the Promise team, and Tebza Malope of Star Films, we crafted the ten narrative tales that take place over a more than one-hundred-year period. I composed and arranged around forty minutes of music. Unconstrained by the usual 30-second or even 2-minute format, I could set my musical imagination free. When the story required, I included African percussive and vocal moments to highlight the narrative.’

Take a look at the interactive website for the full experience http://theforgottengraduate.co.za/