MUSON Festival 2025 honours Nigeria’s independence with score of old-new national anthem

MUSON Centre can never be separate from what’s happening in Nigeria. What the media does is not just reporting but influencing and directing national consciousness. And I ask you, build that for us. The new-old is the present-new anthem made new… As we’re looking forward, we’re also looking backwards

By Anote Ajeluorou

THE must-see yearly music cultural fiesta known as MUSON Festival 2025 got underway in Lagos on Sunday, October 12, 2025 with a ‘Musical Brunch’ where guests were treated to ‘great music and great food in an intimate setting’ that unmistakably set the tone for this year’s festival. It has an array of scintillating bouquet of activities that range from music, performances and more music. This 29th edition of the festival pays special honours to Nigeria’s 65th independence with the score of the old-new national anthem of Nigeria printed on the festival brochure, as part of MUSON Centre’s continuing music education for Nigerians, whose theme this year is ‘In the Flow.’

At the press briefing last Friday, October 10, the Chairman of MUSON Centre, Mr. Louis Mbanefo, explained how previous years’ themes dovetailed into this year’s, and traced the historical trajectory of Nigeria’s foremost music centre 42 years after it was established by five musically-inclined mutual friends, with him as the last man standing.

“After the previous years’ themes of ‘Resurgence,’ ‘Resilience’ and ‘Revival,’ MUSON is now back ‘In the Flow.’ That is the theme for this year’s festival. For after 42 continuous years, the MUSON project continues to thrive and to flow beyond the dreams of our founding fathers and mothers. As usual, I begin by saying a few words about the origins of MUSON. It was formed by a group of friends, including Mr Akintola Williams, Chief Ayo Rosiji, Mrs Francesca Emanuel, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi (all deceased) and my humble self, in 1983. Our objective has been the promotion of the performance, understanding and enjoyment of serious music. We have tackled our objectives in two ways. First, we have held concerts with regularity since 1984, with performances of the highest quality by Nigerian and expatriate performers. And second, we have developed two Schools of Music – the Basic School, which provides musical education in the theory of music as well as the performance of musical instruments for Nigerians of all ages, and the Diploma School. The latter runs a two-year course in music theory and instrumental performance and has an annual intake of 45 advanced students who are all granted scholarships by the MTN Foundation.”

With pride, Mr. Mbanefo recounted the musical feat most of the alumni of the music school have accomplished since cutting their teeth in music education at MUSON Music School and putting Nigeria on the musical map globally.

“From humble beginnings in 2008, the school has now become a Diploma-awarding institution, and has produced over 500 Diploma graduates, many of whom have continued their musical education in Europe and America and attained international recognition. Most of our alumni have made and are making very impressive contributions to the musical life in Nigeria and, indeed, the world. They have considerably raised the standard of teaching, of singing and of musical performance in churches, in schools and at social events. Indeed, many churches and musical societies throughout Nigeria are now borrowing from the templates established by MUSON. There can be no doubt that training in classical music is an important discipline for our youth and a source of spiritual fulfilment, not to mention employment, throughout their lives.”

While Mbanefo expressed happiness at what MUSON has achieved in its 42years old existence, it berated the Nigerian government for its neglect of the art, noting governments elsewhere heavily subsidise the arts.

“Indeed, the MUSON project is one that all Nigerians should be proud of,” he said. “It has demonstrated what can be achieved by Nigerians when we cooperate and pool our resources, talents, skills and energies towards a common goal. The founding fathers and mothers deserve the gratitude of the Nigerian Society for the very considerable personal sacrifice of their time and skills over many years. Whereas the arts are heavily subsidised by governments in other parts of the world, the MUSON project has been funded entirely through the rental of our facilities as well as generous donations by individuals and the private sector in Nigeria.”

A run-down of festival activities include MUSON Day concert on Tuesday, October 14, which celebrates MUSON’s birthday with a concert by students and alumni of the MUSON Diploma School. The pioneer director of the music school, Mrs Marion Akpata, who sadly passed away last month, will be honoured. On Friday, October 17, there will be a jazz party featuring performances by well-known jazz artists such as Imoleayo Balogun, Isaac Olatunde and OB Nelson. On Saturday, October 18, there will be a musical drama titled Sawalele: The Beat of a Dream, based on the highlife work of Rex Lawson, sponsored by Chevron. On Sunday, October 19, there will be an operatic performance. And on Tuesday, October 21, there will be a symposium on ‘Music Meets Technology’, which is tagged ‘Collabo’. On Thursday, October 23, there will be a concert which will showcase talented young performers.

And on Saturday, October 25, there will be another operatic performance, as Mr Mbanefo put it, “with the usual Gala Concert scheduled for Sunday, October 26, sponsored by Total Energies. The concert will feature the MUSON Choir directed as usual by the incomparable Emeka Nwokedi, as well as the MUSON Symphony Orchestra conducted by our visiting maestro, Walter-Michael Vollhardt. The highlight will be a full performance by the choir and orchestra combined on Carl Orff’s iconic work ‘Carmina Burana’. It promises to be an exciting festival.”

Mbanefo concluded by stressing the importance of music in a child’s mental development, especially when exposed to learning musical instruments in their early years, noting, “We believe that every child should be exposed to music, as it shapes the child’s future life. A child who plays a musical instrument performs better in school, as it helps in developing the brain. We should be able to assimilate/imbibe the mental discipline of music.”

MUSON School of Music Director, Princess Banke Ademola, said the late Marion Akpata, who died shortly after her husband, and believed she had joined her husband to share music in heaven, will be honoured with special calypso-style performances that pay tribute to her Jamaican origins.

“She was from Jamaica, so you’d hear more of calypso rather than classical music,” she said. “You’d hear a lot of Negro dances, songs, something related to calypso music when you talk of Negro spirituals. I’m sure you’re in for a lovely evening. You’d hear classical music but a lot of calypso music, too. And a song dedicated to her titled ‘Akpata’. Come to think about the lady who made MUSON music what it is. She was motherly but a no-nonsense person.”

Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) was commended for his sponsorship of MUSON’s opera performance. The Jazz party, according to Imoleayo Balogun, “will be interwoven with traditional, swing and fusion of all jazz forms. Our traditional way of jazz, which is improvisation, and its unique because we will have it as Las Carla, it will be more jazzy and intimate.”

Although ‘My Kind of Music’ has been taken out of the festival programming this year, there are some innovative additions that will excite festival-goers as well that include the launch of a podcast called ‘Music Expressions by MUSON Centre’ on Tuesday, October 21 at Shell Hall, MusicQuest has been rechristened Youth Concert to expose the musical skills of young people rather than make it competitive, as it was before. Sawalele, the musical drama, is also a new addition to MUSON Festival bouquet.

According to the School of Music director, Princess Ademola, “We have some really talented children whose performances will amaze you. You’d listen to some of our own children and wonder how they were found. Young Nigerian children who can play the violin, cello, playing all sorts of instruments. We now call it Youth Concert, not You Quest/Concert any more.”

For Sir Emeka Nwokedi who has taken part in the 28th previous festivals and notching up his 29th festival this year, there can never be a better time to savour what MUSON has to offer Nigerians musically.

“This is the 29th edition of MUSON Centre,” he said, “and I have been in this festival from inception. I’ve taken part in all of them – all 29,” adding that he will conduct at the Gala Concert alongside his visiting German counterpart, Volldardt, in a two-part concert on October 26, 2025. He explained that section one is on the great work by Carl Orff, which “Reflects themes of life, nature and festivity. This work will be directed by Volldardt, a German conductor. He is a dramatic conductor, accompanied by a 45-man orchestra; the music will be loud all through but very enjoyable.

“Section 2 is Afro-pop music, which I will conduct. These days, cool music is having a hard time. It’s going up direction; most time you rock to it. So the Afro-pop music is danceable; we invite the audience to be part of it. You’re not restricted. There will be some highlife composed by Nigerian composers, a mix of highlife and pop music. This section is the grand finale of MUSON Festival 2025.”

Ayo Bankole said Sawalele is conceptualised along Rex Lawson’s highlife music, a dramatisation of Rex Lawson’s music through musical drama, adding, “It’s a festival like no other. The musical drama is an innovation this year that we are introducing.

MUSON Centre Trustee and Honorary Secretary, Mr. Adeyemi Akinsanya, explained the nexus between music and national development when he said, “You cannot speak of the virtues, ethos of a nation without music. It’s a vanguard position that MUSON stands for. Music representing innovation is an embodiment of all of a nation’s virtues for the future generation. While growing up in Ibadan with my parents, we spent some Christmases in Lagos on Herbert Macaulay Street, and down the road was Rex Lawson living on same street.

“In a way, you cannot take away the musical values of Nigeria. MUSON Centre can never be separate from what’s happening in Nigeria. What the media does is not just reporting but influencing and directing national consciousness. And I ask you, build that for us. The new-old is the present-new anthem made new. It’s in our brochure. MUSON hasn’t forgotten. As we’re looking forward, we’re also looking backwards.”

• https://thearthubng.com/muson-festival-2025-honours-nigerias-independence-with-score-of-old-new-national-anthem/