The African Music Academy of Canada Online Community pathwayThis series follows our journey toward a global community through African-inspired music. Each entry marks a moment along the way, a Step of learning, a Crossroad of choice, a Destination reached, or a quiet Reflection on what we have learned. Together, they form our shared pathway from classrooms and choirs to a connected world. Today, I had the privilege of connecting with Emeka Nwokedi, Director of the Lagos City Chorale, over Zoom, thanks to an introduction from Chuka Eluchie, one of our members in Edmonton, who recently moved to Canada from Nigeria within the past year. Mr. Nwokedi shared the remarkable 37-year journey of his choir, its open membership, and its strong youth participation. He spoke about directing multiple choirs, teaching at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) School of Music, and mentoring students who have gone on to Yale and Juilliard. He also described the MUSON Festival of the Arts, which features orchestral, jazz, and choral performances. This year’s festival closes with Carmina Burana and an Afro Choral Mix that blends Nigerian highlife and choral-pop songs. Our conversation highlighted a key difference between Nigeria and North America. While many choirs in Canada and the United States are seeing aging memberships, youth engagement in Nigerian choirs is thriving. Highlife and Afro-beat-influenced choral songs resonate deeply with young people, keeping choral culture vibrant and relevant. At the African Music Academy of Canada, we can learn from this model to engage more young people in our programs. We also discussed Mr. Nwokedi’s composition Animal Carol (Christmas), which imagines animals greeting the newborn King. Our choir is currently learning this song and will perform it at our upcoming concert with the Cosmopolitan Music Society on December 13th at 2:30 PM at The Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre. We plan to eventually adapt the piece for classroom use, inspired by lessons from the Orff Schulwerk approach, blending children’s singing, movement, and instrumental play. This collaboration reflects a larger vision, the African Music Academy of Canada Online Community becoming a global platform where schools worldwide can access authentic African music, creating opportunities for young African composers and providing teaching roles for musicians across the diaspora. AuthorGarth Prinsonsky (stage name Garth Prince) is a JUNO Award-winning Namibian-Canadian musician, founder and Artistic Director of the African Music Academy of Canada. 
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
RSS Feed