One of Africa’s most accomplished scholars and an eminent traditional ruler Igwe (Prof.) Laz Ekwueme, Eze Ijikala II of Ozoiko, Igwe Oko in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, is 90 years today.
He is sub-Saharan Africa’s first Professor of Music and is recognised as the best academically trained music scholar, composer and performer in Africa. He is a recipient of the Nigerian National Order of Merit, the highest honour for creative academic and intellectual achievement in Nigeria. A grateful nation has also conferred on him two prestigious national honours — Officer of the Order of the Niger and Commander of the Order of the Niger.
Born Lazarus Edward Nnanyelu Ekwueme, this third son of an Anglican Missionary teacher, Igwe Laz Ekwueme, as he is fondly and reverentially called, was born on 28 January 1935, at Oko He was educated at Government College Umuahia (1948 – 1954). At the higher-level, Ekwueme holds a Bachelor of Music Degree of the University of Durham, England, a Master of Music of the Royal College of Music, London, and a Ph.D. from Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States; in addition to 12 professional teaching and performance Diplomas in various branches of Music and in Speech and Drama.
Igwe Ekwueme taught different subjects including: Music, Theatre Arts, African Studies and African- American Studies in various universities – University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1964-66), Yale University (1968-70), State University of New York Stony Brook and Oneonta (1970-74), and University of Lagos (1974-2002). He held a number of academic and administrative positions in various universities. For 10 years (1988-98) he was the Public Orator for the University of Lagos.
A multi-talented genius, Igwe Ekwueme has put Nigeria, indeed Africa, on the world map in the scholarship, creativity and artistic performance of various branches of the arts – particularly in the field of Music, Theatre, Literature and Communication.
He is author of over 14 books and numerous articles in international journals. He is also an inimitable composer of numerous instrumental and vocal musical works, including an opera (A Night in Bethlehem), a Concert Mass (Missa Africana) and numerous Christmas carols, compositions of Nigerian national and patriotic songs and arrangements of folk songs and Negro Spirituals. He lectured extensively in various parts of the world, and performed as conductor and soloist in numerous international concerts. He has been the Director of Nigerian National Choirs at FESTAC 77, the Nigerian National Orchestra and Choir (200 1), the opening and closing ceremonies of the 8th All Africa Games, Abuja (2003), and the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Abuja (2003).
Igwe Ekwueme has led national educational delegations, theatre contingents and music groups to various international festivals — Pyong Yang, North Korea (1980), Venezuela (1981), Brazil (1981), Mexico (1982), U.S.A. (1982), Congo Brazzaville (1996), and Ghana (1997). He has been invited to run music and choral workshops and clinics, and as judge in choral and other music competitions within and outside Nigeria. Igwe Ekwueme has featured prominently in many theatre and music performances on stage, radio, television and film in various parts of the world. He has played prominent roles in over 50 contemporary Nigerian films.
He has been subject of various theses and dissertations. He has won various national and international honours and prizes, including prizes in Literature, Drama and Music at the Nigerian Festivals of the Arts in the 1950’s, the N.B.C. Christmas Short Story Competition (1959), and author of the Text (lyrics) of the ECOWAS Anthem. Professor Emeritus of the University of Lagos (2004), he delivered the Ahiajoku lecture in 2005, a lecture reserved only for renowned intellectual giants and accomplished Nigerians of Igbo extraction.
Igwe Ekwueme has received achievement awards from reputable media houses and several other organisations. He has been the National Grand Patron of the Government College Umuahia Old Boys Association since 2001. Retiring in 2002 from active academic profession after 38 years of university teaching in various parts of the world, Igwe Ekwueme ascended the throne of his ancestors on 2 May 2003, as Igwe Ekwueme IV, Nnanyelugo Ogbonnaya Nwovuegbe, Eze Ijikala II, Ozioko Igwe Oko. He has been Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Board for Technical Education (2013 – 2015), and Member Governing Board Nigerian National Merit Award (2013 – 2020).
At 90, Igwe Ekwueme’s virile leadership continues to impact positively on his native Oko, Anambra State and Nigeria. His accustomed civility and sagacity are treasure trove to enduring excellence while his doses of superlative wisdom continue to enhance our shared aspirations and delight our common humanity.
Oduenyi, MD/Editor-in-Chief of Daily Query and an Adjunct Faculty at Pan Atlantic University Lagos, is the Agunaechemba Oko
