CHAPTER 3: PROFESSOR AGATHA ONWUEKWE AND THE QUEST FOR AN AUTHENTIC AFRICAN IDENTITY

Abstract

African history records a time when the Western Powers colonized the continent. This paper disparages that period and the effort by the colonialists to obliterate the African identity, especially her cultural practices. It then takes a swipe at the activities of the early African musically literate and Western-educated precursors. Thereafter, it takes us through a maze of efforts by African activists, musicians and musicologists in their quests to indigenize their musical output: a move which is established was spurred by the activities of the colonialists. It gingerly examines Professor Agatha Ijeoma Onwuekwe's exploits in this direction. The paper notes her conviction that this could be achieved through the sourcing of African music idioms. It asserted that this well-known teacher of music composition focused her attention on the need to develop a style of composition that would be uniquely African. This writer based his work on a personal interaction with the Professor and cited one of her works entitled 'Akwankwa' in support of this assertion. While highlighting the fact that Professor Onwuekwe is a woman of many parts, it examines the process she engaged in to achieve her point. The paper identified with the position of the Professor that one way forward for the African composer is to delve into his roots for enduring inspiration. The method which may be considered ethno-musical has shown the capacity for showcasing the rich and varied African musical heritage to the world. Information from personal interaction, the internet and journals make up the content of this paper.

Keywords: Indigenous, African, Akwankwa, and heritage.