The British are Coming!
Donald Macleod explores the roots of Nigerian art music, from traditional tunes to missionary-led churches, with Alexander Douglas.
Donald Macleod begins a week on Fela Sowande and Nigerian art music by tracing its roots in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Nigeria. With Alexander Douglas, he explores the impact of European missionary education, the introduction of Western musical training, and the tensions this created with indigenous traditions. The programme follows how Nigerian musicians responded, from the 're鈥慉fricanisation' of church music led by figures such as Josiah Ransome鈥慘uti to the emergence of a new art-music tradition in Lagos. Alongside this story, we hear music shaped by both worlds, from piano works drawing on traditional drumming to Sowande鈥檚 blending of spirituals and Yoruba materials.
Music featured:
High Life
Fela Sowande
Talking Drums
Joshua Uzoigwe
William Chapman Nyaho, piano
Go Down Moses
Fela Sowande
Kevin Bowyer, organ
Ob谩ng铆j矛 Iwo Lo to S矛n
Josiah Ransome鈥慘uti, voice
African Suite: I-III
Fela Sowande
CBC Vancouver Orchestra
Mario Bernardi, conductor
Produced by Ellie Ajao for 91福利社 Audio Wales & West.
On radio
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- Mon 6 Jul 2026 16:0091福利社 Radio 3
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