The Origin of Concert Music in Nigeria, 1850 - 1920

Abstract

Studies on the origins of concert music in Nigeria often dwell on aspects of the phenomena without little attempt at situating the discussion within the social conditions that led to its emergence. Their approach has denied the academic community the benefits inherent in a decidedly holistic approach. This paper, drawing on existing studies and recent findings, reconstructs the history while situating it within the social conditions of the time. The investigation necessitated the study of secondary sources of data such as newspapers of the period and more recent scholarly writings relating to the subject. The paper demonstrates that concert music was introduced into Nigeria as an elitist pastime by ex-slave returnees from Sierra Leone during the mid 19^th century. Right from the beginning, concert music inadvertently maintained close relationship with the church. To further interest in concert music, several associations were formed and they held concerts consisting of works of western composers. Caught in the crest of the cultural naturalism that engulfed Lagos society in the 1890s the cultural elite among the returnees questioned the relevance of European concert music and advocated the cultivation of African forms of entertainment. This ultimately led to decline in concert entertainment in the early decades of the 20^th century.