Echezonachukwu Nduka’s engagements spanned multiple prestigious events, reinforcing the growing recognition of African composers in classical music.
By Emmanuel ‘Waziri’ Okoro
As part of Black History Month celebrations, Nigerian poet and pianist, Echezonachukwu Nduka, captivated audiences across the United States with performances and discussions on African pianism.
On February 7, Nduka was a featured performer at the University of Pennsylvania’s “Music in the Pavilion” concert. Alongside his performance, he delivered an insightful talk on African pianism, highlighting works by composers such as Christian Onyeji and Joshua Uzoigwe. The university’s music department praised the program for its “energy, depth, and artistry”.
Three days later, he headlined a concert at the Kroc Center of Philadelphia, where he presented a lecture titled “African Pianism in Three Perspectives”. The event, which celebrated Black excellence in classical music, also featured performances from his piano recital series, “Resounding African Pianism”.
On February 14, Echezonachukwu Nduka made his debut at the West African Art Music Festival, organised by the New England Conservatory (NEC). He not only delivered a piano performance seminar on African pianism but also earned high praise from Prof. Bode Omojola, the festival’s Resident Scholar.
Omojola, who trained at the University of Nigeria, described Nduka’s session as a “wonderful performance” and expressed pride in his contributions to the field.
Echezonachukwu Nduka is a pianist, poet, and author of Chrysanthemums for Wide-eyed Ghosts and Waterman. As a recording artist and performer, he focuses on art music for piano by composers of African descent.
Currently a graduate student in Music Studies: Ethnomusicology at the University of Pennsylvania, his research explores the sociocultural significance, spatial locations, and performance practices of African pianism.