Joshua Uzoigwe
Encyclopedia
Joshua Uzoigwe was a Nigeria
n composer and ethnomusicologist
. A member of the Igbo
ethnic group, many of his works draw on the traditional music of that people.
, Abia State
(formerly Imo State
), Nigeria
. He began his education at the village primary school in Umuagu. Most of his early life was spent with his older brother, Sunday Uzoigwe, who was then employed at the University of Ibadan
. For his secondary education, Joshua attended King's College, Lagos
before going on to International School Ibadan
to study for his Advanced Level Certificate
.
From 1970 to 1973, he was at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he began his studies in music. He completed his undergraduate degree (1973–1977) at Guildhall College of Music, London
and from 1977 to 1981 he attended Queen's University Belfast, attaining both an M.A. and a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology.
, Ife
, then University of Nigeria Nsukka and finally University of Uyo
in Akwa Ibom State.He got very lucky with a breakthrough when he was 21
‘Day is passing’
An accomplished pianist, Joshua accompanied many other musicians in live performances, including Ori Enyi Okoro and Joyce Akinwumi. He performed many concerts during the Biafran Civil War and was a member of the Odunke Community of Artists, which strove to sustain cultural life during that civil war and to foster Igbo culture in all its dimensions from its base at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
In 1993, he published his study on Akin Euba Akin Euba (ISBN 9783927510166)
Joyce Adewumi, founder of the New York African Chorus Ensemble (http://www.nyafricanensemble.com/) and a close friend and former colleague of Joshua’s writes that her ‘work at the New York African Chorus Ensemble is dedicated to Joshua and it couldn't have been possible without his influence in my life’.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n composer and ethnomusicologist
Ethnomusicology
Ethnomusicology is defined as "the study of social and cultural aspects of music and dance in local and global contexts."Coined by the musician Jaap Kunst from the Greek words ἔθνος ethnos and μουσική mousike , it is often considered the anthropology or ethnography of music...
. A member of the Igbo
Igbo people
Igbo people, also referred to as the Ibo, Ebo, Eboans or Heebo are an ethnic group living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria. They speak Igbo, which includes various Igboid languages and dialects; today, a majority of them speak English alongside Igbo as a result of British colonialism...
ethnic group, many of his works draw on the traditional music of that people.
Early life and education
Uzoigwe was born in UmuahiaUmuahia
Umuahia is the capital of Abia State in southeastern Nigeria. Umuahia is located along the rail road that lies between Port Harcourt to Umuahia's south and Enugu city to its north. Umuahia has a population of 359,230 according to the 2006 Nigerian census. Umuahia's indigenous ethnic group are the...
, Abia State
Abia State
Abia State is a state in southeastern Nigeria. The capital is Umuahia, although the major commercial city is Aba, formerly a British colonial government outpost. The state was created in 1991 from part of Imo State and its citizens are predominantly Igbo people...
(formerly Imo State
Imo State
Imo State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria and lies to the south of Nigeria with Owerri as its capital and largest city.-History:Imo State came into existence in 1976 along with other new states created under the leadership of the late military ruler of Nigeria, Murtala Muhammad, having been...
), Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. He began his education at the village primary school in Umuagu. Most of his early life was spent with his older brother, Sunday Uzoigwe, who was then employed at the University of Ibadan
University of Ibadan
The University of Ibadan is the oldest Nigerian university, and is located five miles from the centre of the major city of Ibadan in Western Nigeria...
. For his secondary education, Joshua attended King's College, Lagos
King's College, Lagos
King's College, Lagos is a secondary school in Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria. It was founded on 20 September 1909 with 10 students on its original site at Lagos Island, adjacent to Tafawa Balewa Square. The school admits male students only, although there were some female HSC students before the...
before going on to International School Ibadan
International School Ibadan
The International School Ibadan is located on the Campus of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria's oldest university. It was founded on 13th October 1963 as a joint project between the Ford Foundation and the University...
to study for his Advanced Level Certificate
GCE Advanced Level
The Advanced Level General Certificate of Education, commonly referred to as an A-level, is a qualification offered by education institutions in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Cameroon, and the Cayman Islands...
.
From 1970 to 1973, he was at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he began his studies in music. He completed his undergraduate degree (1973–1977) at Guildhall College of Music, London
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
and from 1977 to 1981 he attended Queen's University Belfast, attaining both an M.A. and a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology.
Career
Uzoigwe lectured in Music at three Universities in Nigeria, starting from the Obafemi Awolowo UniversityObafemi Awolowo University
Obafemi Awolowo University is a government-owned and -operated Nigerian university. The university is in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria...
, Ife
Ife
Ife is an ancient Yoruba city in south-western Nigeria. Evidence of inhabitation at the site has been discovered to date back to roughly 560 BC...
, then University of Nigeria Nsukka and finally University of Uyo
University of Uyo
The University of Uyo is located in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.The university was formerly known as the University of Cross River State . On October 1, 1991 the federal government of Nigeria established it as a federal university and the name was changed to the University of Uyo...
in Akwa Ibom State.He got very lucky with a breakthrough when he was 21
Music
Joshua’s best known compositions include:‘Day is passing’
An accomplished pianist, Joshua accompanied many other musicians in live performances, including Ori Enyi Okoro and Joyce Akinwumi. He performed many concerts during the Biafran Civil War and was a member of the Odunke Community of Artists, which strove to sustain cultural life during that civil war and to foster Igbo culture in all its dimensions from its base at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Poetry and other publications
Three of Joshua’s poems, ‘On the fading shadows’, ‘Transition’ and ‘Drying Lake, Rising Spring’ taken from Nsukka Harvest: Poetry from Nsukka, 1966–72, ed. Chukwuma Azuonye, Nsukka: Odunke Publications, 1972, pp. 13–15 appear on http://www.sentinelpoetry.org.uk/magonline1105/Joshua_Uzoigwe.htmIn 1993, he published his study on Akin Euba Akin Euba (ISBN 9783927510166)
Personal life
Joshua married Joanne McGuckin in Nigeria in 1981. They had met whilst he was studying at Queen’s University Belfast. Joanne was a lecturer at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria and was completing her postgraduate studies when she died in 1991. They had three children, Uzoma, Ejike and Nneka.Joyce Adewumi, founder of the New York African Chorus Ensemble (http://www.nyafricanensemble.com/) and a close friend and former colleague of Joshua’s writes that her ‘work at the New York African Chorus Ensemble is dedicated to Joshua and it couldn't have been possible without his influence in my life’.
Essays About Joshua Uzoigwe
- Sadoh, Godwin. "Creativity and Dance in Joshua Uzoigwe's Music." ComposerUSA 9, No. 2 (2003): 4-5.
- _____________. "Intercultural Creativity in Joshua Uzoigwe's Music." Africa 74, No. 4 (December 2004): 633-661.
- _____________. "The Creative Experience of a Contemporary Nigerian Composer." Living Music 20, No. 1 (Spring 2005): 6-9.
- _____________. "Hybrid Composition: An Introduction to the Age of Atonality in Nigeria." The Diapason 97, No. 11 (November 2006): 22-25.
- _____________. "Twentieth Century Nigerian Composers." NTAMA, January 10, 2007.
External links
- Joshua Uzoigwe page
- http://www.sentinelpoetry.org.uk/magonline1105/Joshua_Uzoigwe.htm
- Article