FROM ROOTS TO INNOVATION: THEMATIC METAMORPHOSIS AND TRANSFORMATION OF NIGERIA'S MODERN ART MUSIC SCENE

Abstract

This article explores the thematic and structural transformation of Nigeria’s modern art music, tracing its evolution from indigenous musical idioms through colonial imprints to contemporary innovation. It aims to examine how Nigerian composers have negotiated cultural identity, spirituality, and modernity through a blend of traditional motifs and Western compositional t echniques. The study addresses the gap in scholarship regarding the interplay between heritage and innovation in Nigerian art music narratives. Employing a historical ethnomusicological approach alongside thematic hermeneutic analysis, the research draws o n archival records, musical scores, and oral testimonies. Theoretical grounding is provided by Postcolonial Theory focusing on hybridity and decolonial discourse and African Aesthetics, emphasizing communal symbolism and indigenous knowledge systems. Focusing on key works by composers such as Fela Sowande, Ayo Bankole, and Joshua Uzoigwe, the study identifies recurring themes of hybridity, spiritual resonance, and cultural reclamation. Findings reveal a deliberate metamorphosis in both content and form, underlining the resilience and ingenuity of Nigerian art composers. The article concludes that Nigeria’s modern art music is not merely an artistic evolution but a dynamic site of cultural reimagination. This underscores its relevance in contemporary African scholarship and global musicological discourse.