African Scholars Advocate for Revamping Music Education System to Preserve Cultural Heritage

Funmi Ogundar, a music scholar, stresses the critical need for Africa to rebuild its music education system to safeguard the continent's musical legacy. She warns that the global interest in African music is rising, but weak educational structures at home jeopardize the transmission of this heritage to future generations.

Adeoluwa Okunad, a renowned professor and ethnomusicologist, underscores the necessity for comprehensive reforms in music education across Africa. He points out that recent changes in Nigeria's curriculum merging music into creative arts risk diluting the cultural significance of music education.

Okunad advocates for a structured approach to formal music education to develop talent and expertise beyond mere exposure. He emphasizes the transformative power of African music on the global stage, citing examples of African musicians excelling internationally.

Okunad's work extends the influence of African music beyond Nigeria to countries like the United States, Brazil, and Malaysia, positioning African music as a powerful cultural ambassador worldwide.