The African Concert Series

The title “Ojo Maa Ro” in Yoruba language translates to “Rain, shower on us”. The focus on natural elements and human dependence on them is characteristic of some of Ayo Bankole’s works, which often blend Western musical techniques with traditional Yoruba themes and folklore.

☔️☔️ African Art Song: “Ojo Maa Ro” (Let it Rain!) by Ayo Bankole
🎤Omo Bello
🎹 Rebeca Omordia 🪘 Richard Olatunde Baker

Did you know?!
Nigerian composer Akin Euba wrote opera “Chaka: An Opera in Two Chants”, recorded and performed by the City of Birmingham Touring Opera.

Akin Euba (1935–2020) was a distinguished Nigerian composer, musicologist, and pianist known as the pioneer of “African Pianism” and “creative ethnomusicology”. His work uniquely blended traditional African musical elements, especially Yoruba rhythms, with Western classical music techniques.

📚Check out these books 👆and learn more about Samuel Akpabot and his musical legacy!
#nigerianartmusic #samuelakpabot

Samuel Akpabot - Akwa-Ibom (1932–2000) was a renowned Nigerian composer, ethnomusicologist, author, and sports journalist. He is known for blending African traditional music and Western classical styles in his compositions, most notably his orchestral works.

📚 👆Check out these books by two prominent Nigerian scholars, Godwin Sadoh and Bode Omojola, which provide an in-depth analysis of Sowande’s life, work, and legacy.

FELA SOWANDE (1905–1987)
ℹ️A prominent Nigerian musician, composer, organist, and educator, widely regarded as the “father of modern Nigerian art music”, his works effectively blending Western classical techniques with traditional African, particularly Yoruba, melodies and rhythms.

🪈Ogbu-oja Gerald Eze
🪘Richard Olatunde Baker
#ogbuoja #oja #ojaflute

Part of our African flute series, the ọjà flute of the Igbo people of Nigeria plays a central role in their social, cultural & spiritual events. It is considered the “soul” of Igbo cultural music and is a key communication tool, often referred to as a “talking instrument”.

🎶ℹ️ More info & tickets £5 for under 35 years 👉🏾https://www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/whats-on/202603211130

ℹ️ Justinian Tamusuza’s piece Okwanjula Kw’Endere (Introduction of Flute) is inspired by the Ugandan bamboo flute called the endere, an instrument used by shepherds, as well as in traditional festivals, and in royal court music for the King of Buganda.

🎶 Flautist Rowland Sutherland plays Okwanjula Kw’Endere (Introduction of the Flute) by composer Justinian Tamusuza (b. 1951, Uganda) 🇺🇬part of Music from East Africa Concert at @wigmore_hall on 21 March 2026.

When the European flute is used to express certain features of African traditional music, creating a new genre - African art music for flute, a blend of Western classical music and African traditional music. Nigerian composer Akin Euba is a leading figure of the Nigerian School of art music.

Snippet of our African music for flute concert with Baba Gallé Kanté, fula flute
Rowland Sutherland, European flute and
Moussa Koroleko, balafon

The Fula flute, European flute and the balafon are increasingly found in cross-genre music,often in fusion collaborations that blend traditional West African music with Western styles, bridging the traditional West African scales with the chromatic possibilities of Western instruments.

🪈🎶 Baba Gallé Kanté plays the Fula flute. Considered the national instrument of the Fulani people of West Africa, the Fula flute holds significant cultural value, used in traditional music for storytelling, ceremonies, and connecting with ancestral traditions.

🎶🪈 A characteristic playing technique of the Fula flute involves the musician singing alternately or simultaneously to the notes being blown, which adds to its unique, multiphonic sound. #fulaflute #fulaniflute #babagallekante

🪈🎶 Baba Gallé Kanté plays the Fula flute. Considered the national instrument of the Fulani people of West Africa, the Fula flute holds significant cultural value, used in traditional music for storytelling, ceremonies, and connecting with ancestral traditions.

🪈 African flutes were used in a variety of contexts, from the spiritual to the practical, and their use continues today in many different forms of music. 🎶

⭐️ Can you name African flutes? ⭐️
🪈The flute holds great significance in Africa for its roles in communication, spiritual practices and cultural expression.
⚱𓂀⚒🏺Flutes in Africa have a long history, with evidence of bone and reed flutes dating back to the Later Stone Age.

African Pianism as exemplified in Igbo music in this Igbo dance for piano by Christian Onyeji from Nigeria, performed with Ogbu oja Gerald Eze at the @africanseries.bsky.social @wigmore-hall.org.uk! #igbomusic #africanpianism

Through roots: an African Concert Series update (and more) This is a public service announcement! – an all-purpose post rounding up some recent African Concert Series activity, with a look ahead to some events and releases to come. The latest African…

🖼️🤔👓 New on ArtMuseLondon, my round-up of the most recent @africanseries.bsky.social day @wigmore-hall.org.uk, plus a look ahead to future events AND some listening recommendations. It’s all here…

artmuselondon.com/2025/09/02/t...

Exploring African Pianism - I enjoyed writing this article for the Gramophone magazine exploring the African piano repertoire and highlighting techniques of African pianism.

👓 www.gramophone.co.uk/features/art...

Jamaican Medley (excerpt) by Eleanor Alberga performed by Maria Thompson Corley | African Women at The African Concert Series at Wigmore Hall 2025.
#womencomposers #jamaican

Glorious ✨🎶Psalm to Windrush by Shirley J Thompson performed by Nadine Benjamin soprano & Maria Thompson Corley piano | African Women at The African Concert Series at Wigmore Hall 2025.

Dancing into the Bank Holiday weekend on Gambian rhythms. ✨🎶Tunde Jegede & the African Classical Music Ensemble | The African Concert Series at Wigmore Hall 2025

YouTube video by The African Concert Series Ethiopian Piano Music: Girma Yifrashewa plays Ambassel

“Ambassel” from Piano Music from Ethiopia with Girma Yirfrashewa at the African Concert Series at Wigmore Hall, 2025.
Listen now: youtu.be/8f3ypoYtKq4?...

Thank you to everyone who supported the 7th African Concert Series at Wigmore Hall and to those who attended our concerts!

See you in 2026 for another special series of concerts on 21 March!

Another superb @africanseries.bsky.social day @wigmore-hall.org.uk draws to a close. Lovely programme tonight shuffling combinations of African & Western instruments to life-affirming effect. 🙏 💐 to @rebecaomordia.bsky.social for impeccable piano / curation / organisation skills!