MEKI NZEWIBIOGRAPHY (BY KOFI AGAWU)

Professor Meki Nzewi lectures in African Music at the University of Pretoria. As a cultural scientist, he has undertaken an interactive study of the creative theory and performance practice underlying African traditional musical arts for over 36 years

Interests

He has written copiously on all musico-philosophical aspects of African music, and has published four books and 34 articles and philosophical essays on African music, dance and drama.

Writings and compositions

He has written, composed and produced 5 music-theatre works, 7 musicals, 3 operas and 3 poetic-dance theatre works. His other compositions include works for orchestra, choir, solo voice, drums and other ensembles. In 2001, the English Chamber Orchestra gave the world premiere of his newest orchestral work during a tour of South Africa..

Literary works continued

Prof. Nzewi has also published literary works, including three plays, a novel and poems, and has written and produced works for TV and radio.

Performance and philosophy As a master drummer, he has performed

and given workshops throughout Europe and Africa. He is the founder and co-director of the Ama Dialog Foundation for African traditional arts in Nigeria. His creative philosophy and practice aim at continuing the traditional multi-disciplinary approach to creativity, performance and presentation.

Details of publications (Selected)Books:

African Music: Theoretical Content & Creative Continuum. Oldershausen, Institut fur Didaktik popularer musik. 1997

Musical Practice & Creativity. Univ. of Bayreuth, Iwalewa Haus. 1991

Selected publications continued

Articles: Beyond Song Texts - The Lingual

Fundamentals of African Drum Music.Research in African Literature, pp 90-104

The Music of Staged Emotions. Musikunterricht Heute, pp 192-203.

Strategies for Music Education in Africa. ISME Proceedings, pp 456-486.

Selected publications continued

Nigerian Music in the Politics of Values: Between Creative Ennui and Cultural Squint. World Music, pp 123-144

Ese Music: Honours for the Dead; Status for the Sponsor. African Music,pp 90-107.

Selected publications continued

Traditional Strategies for Mass Communication: The Centrality of IgboMusic. Selected Reports in Ethnomusicology, pp 319- 338.

The Cerebral Arts in Nigeria. Presence Africaine, pp 83-103.

New Directions for Dysfunctionalized Art Forms: Prospecting the Ekpo Routine. Nigerian Magazine, pp 38-52.