Kianda, also known as Dandalunda or Mamiwata, is a mermaid-like creature praised in Angola. Kianda is believed to be a source of riches, but also to bring death for those that disrespect the ocean.

We used annual climate change data from 1955 until 2020. After completing our data sonification, we started collecting our own sounds around campus, recording waterfall, fjord, and forested island audio. We also recorded our own drumming (Atabaque in Portuguese) and used Lea’s voice, representing Kianda.

Drops of water merged with the sound of birds, narrating natural processes of water-based ecosystems where everything is aligned. Kianda starts singing her beautiful sound and states her presence in her maritime territory. As the drums are introduced and their sound starts increasing they bring the cultural representation of the origins of the myth and at the same time they introduce the sound of the violin, the piano and many more instruments that represent the rapid changes in the climate through the years.

Kianda is communicating through the sea level rising, to say that her home is in danger. At the end, we can hear the water again, but we hear the drowning sound of water which represents the death of the sea and of the people who disrespect the sea. Data sonification shows the beauty fading away as people who met Kianda meet their demise. The audio also shows an increase in the climate crisis which has no return and no solution as the waters of Kianda become polluted and tainted by human actions. Ultimately, the artistic sounds we create are not merely about crafting a captivating audio-sound piece, but rather a reflection of the intricate web of life, where every sound, every note, bore witness to the delicate balance between humanity and the natural world.