Bio

Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, I am an interdisciplinary musicologist, educator, and musician. As an inaugural fellow, I recently completed the Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship (Mellon/ACLS DIF), which supports interdisciplinary and innovative research in the humanities and interpretive social sciences. The Mellon/ACLS DIF is awarded to scholars “who show promise [in] leading their fields in important new directions.”

My formal journey in music began at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) School of Music, Lagos, where I was awarded a full scholarship and stipend by the MTN Foundation and graduated as the “Best Overall Student.” While pursuing my Associate Diploma in music, I also obtained advanced music theory, percussion, and piano certificates from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) and Trinity College of Music, London.

 

Following my studies at MUSON and spending two years teaching, I attended San Jacinto College in Texas. I then earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Texas at Tyler. Additionally, I am a certified EC-12 music educator in Texas.​ I completed my academic journey by obtaining both my master’s and doctoral degrees in musicology from Florida State University.

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Beyond research and teaching, I have been actively involved in public-facing works. I am committed to bridging the gap between scholarly research and public engagement. I place my scholarly activities in the service of the larger society.

 

As the artistic director of the African Art Music Commissioning Project (AAMCP), I address the gap between Pan-African art music scholarship, composition, and performance. The AAMCP commissions and programs compositions that use Afrocentric musical resources, processes, elements, and theoretical frameworks pertinent to the Pan-African musical landscape. This project amplifies marginalized voices and promotes diversity within the art/classical music landscape while encouraging Afrocentric approaches to art music composition. My public engagements are not simply an act of coupling a service project with an intellectual one; both inform one another, bringing scholarly scrutiny to bear on matters and issues that face the communities I represent.

Ultimately, I aim to inspire those I encounter through scholarship, teaching, and service to partake in our shared humanity and embrace our inherent differences.