25/08/2024
Nigerian poet and pianist, Echezonachukwu Nduka takes African Pianism to New York Stage
On August 17 2024, Nigerian poet and pianist, Echezonachukwu Nduka performed a solo recital at the UCCB Casual Concert Series in Buffalo, New York, USA. In what was regarded as the most attended concert in the series, Nduka performed piano works that appealed to his African roots, stirring further global attention to the African classical music genre.
The recital titled Resounding African Pianism, featured piano works by composers of African and African descent. Particularly works by J.H. Kwabena Nketia, Joshua Uzoigwe, Christian Onyeji, Oswald Russell, Fred Onovwerosuoke, Innocent Okechukwu, Itunu Oyewale, and Chijioke Ngobili. The audience was enthralled, prompting an encore performance of Schumann's works.
The host music director, Dr. Jessie Downs described the performance as amazing and beautiful. Chijioke Ngobili, one of the composers whose work Nduka performed, and was in attendance, praised Nduka's skill. He mentioned that at the end of Nduka's performance, a lady wondered aloud if he had ten hands. Other members of the audience also commended the performance and approached the pianist for photographs and autographs.
Echezonachukwu Nduka is a specialist in African classical music. His recent musical body of work ‘The African Serenades’ (Centaur Records, 2023) is a collaborative project where he performs select African classical piano music. He is a PhD student in Music Studies: Ethnomusicology at the University of Pennsylvania, and his research interests include African Pianism, African Art Music, Applied Ethnomusicology, Performance Studies, and Postcolonial Literature. He is also the author of two critically acclaimed poetry books: Chrysanthemums for Wide-eyed Ghosts (Griots Lounge, 2018) and Waterman (Griots Lounge, 2020), and has been described by The Guardian as "Artist Extraordinaire".
His recital, Resounding African Pianism makes it the first recital or performance of African Pianism in Buffalo. You can watch the recordings of his performance on stage by visiting the Apotheosis Art House YouTube page. See photos from the concert below.
