Hugo Zemp (born 14 May 1937, Basle, Switzerland) is a Swiss-French ethnomusicologist.
A prolific recorder of ethnic music and a writer on the subject, he has also shot a number of films about music of various regions, including 1988 film Voix de tête, voix de poitrine and 2002 film An African Brass Band filmed by him in Ivory Coast in 2002.
His wide musical expertise includes music notably in Africa, Oceania and Switzerland.
He also had particular interest in yodeling and lullabies.
His recordings of lullabies from Solomon Islands were later released by UNESCO as part of their Musical Sources collection.
One famous lullaby he recorded, a traditional Baegu lullaby from the Solomon Islands called "Rorogwela" was sung by Afunakwa, a Northern Malaita old woman.
The recording was later used, apparently without permission, in Deep Forest's song "Sweet Lullaby".
Prof.
Zemp studied musicology and anthropology at the University of Basle graduating in 1961.
He also finished a diploma in percussion at the City of Basel Music Academy (Basel's Conservatory school) in 1960.
In tens of productions by Zemp, it included music from Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Chad, Ivory Coast, Romania, Solomon Islands and various countries in Central Africa.
There were also a number of recordings of yodeling from Switzerland.