The Nation
Nigeria - An Associate Professor of Music at the Lagos State University, Isaac Yekini-Ajenifuja, has challenged the Nigeria Navy Music School (NNMS), Ota, Ogun State to create a global unbeatable identity for itself with its knowledge of steel pan production.
Yekini-Ajenifuja gave the admonition at this year’s Navy Band Conference themed ‘Improving the capacity building of the Nigerian Navy Band through technology for global recognition.’
Although originally an idea from Trinidad and Tobago, steel pan musical instruments were introduced to the Nigerian Armed Forces at the 1977 Second World Festival of Black Arts and Culture (FESTAC ’77) in Lagos.
....Delivering the keynote lecture at the conference, Yekini-Ajenifuja recalled how the Navy in February 2015, sent six personnel comprising two officers and four Ratings to Trinidad and Tobago, for one year course on steel pan tuning and manufacturing.
....“Also, It is very important to state that an efficient and productive Steel Band has been established in the Nigerian Navy School of Music, Ota and steel pans are presently being fabricated locally here at the school. ”
The director said the conference was designed to provide a dedicated platform for harnessing informed opinions on improving the capacity building of the Nigerian Navy Band with particular attention to steel pan technology as a medium to achieve global recognition.
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