Categories
20th Century Nigerian

SOWANDE, Fela

Fela Sowande
Photograph of Fela Sowande courtesy of the African Diaspora Music Project

Born in Oyo, May 29, 1905 
Died in Ravenna, OH, March 1987 

Pronunciation: “FAY-la SHWAHN-de”
IPA: [felə ʃwɑnde]

  • Sowande was a composer and organist from Nigeria. 
  • Sowande studied in England; he was a fellow of the Royal College of Organists and Trinity College of Music, and he earned his B.Mus. at the University of London.  
  • Sowande worked in Nigeria as a liturgical musician and as musical director of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation. Later in life he taught at Howard University and the University of Pittsburgh. 
  • Sowande’s music (especially his sacred music) combines the influence of church music and the composer’s Yoruba heritage.1

Biography from BlackPast 

Biography from African Diaspora Music Project 

Short documentary from Singing Cultures

Sources

  1. Daniel Avorgbedor, “Sowande, Fela,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed August 12, 2021,  https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000026327. 

Pieces