Women and their rightful place: “Women have a vital role to play in conserving the good values of classical music in Africa" (By Igiri Innocent)

Women and their rightful place in Classical music in African continent

Since the beginning of 20^th century, the drive to bring/include women into their rightful place at the heart of every human affair has grown so powerful ever since then.

“Women have a vital role to play in conserving the good values of classical music in Africa, preventing decay of the art and building/maintaining the reverend culture. But although this is now widely recognized, far too often, women are prevented from full participation in some classical music fares”.

The observation – which was addressed by the Executive Director of Empowerment of Women (UN Women), Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka – was on ‘women and peace and security’ on 31 October 2000.

Rita Lopidia, Executive Director of EVE Organization for Women Development, South Sudan, also addressed the point on behalf of the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) Working Group on Women.

Far too often, women are prevented by some believe or by their parents from full participation in some classical music fares in Africa. The observations reaffirms the important role of women in the preservation and promotion of classical music culture in Africa and stress the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all aspect of it.

The truth is that some progresses already made on this area of art are under threat of being destroyed if serious action is not been taken to amplify women’s actives participation and engagement in classical music in Africa.

Furthermore, I have observed that women’s presence and/or participation in classical music performances/fares are highly welcomed as a promising factor for music architectural development in African society.

When I organized a concert at the University of Lagos Nigeria in 2014, there were 40 women between ages 8-30 from 27 states in performance at that event for the purpose of promoting African women classical music skills. Today, various music centres have embraced the idea of always including women in performance at all classical music concerts.

Hundreds of thousands of women and girls are being helped and supported by UN, AU, and other NGOs programs in different training in Africa. Such training includes musical instrument skills and other musical training. Despite all these trainings, African women remain underutilized in that area.

In every classical music concerts in Africa, there may be one woman in performance and ten in audience. And all this is not a good record judging from all other records across Europe.

By failing to constantly include enough women in the activities of classical music or by failing to allow them to actively participate in classical music events in Africa ‘we are failing the World in general”. 

To carry this campaign forward, I would like to advocate few steps

First, all reports and briefings on classical music activities in African continent should seek information on women and girls participation. “Without relevant information, growth in that sector as it relate to Africa will never meet the expected target. Too often, what is not counted, does not count.

Second, all African classical music professionals should be held accountable for putting women and girls at the centre of their work.

Third, the members of African musicologist association must listen to women’s groups, in all deliberations on classical music issues.

We must never stop campaigning for women to take up their rightful place at the heart of classical music activities in Africa. Our commitments must not be simply plans on paper but actions.

Africa is Music!

Music is Africa!

By IGIRI INNOCENT