VETERAN musician and chairman, Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MSCN), Oritz Wliki, will chair the lecture and musical performance organised by the National Troupe of Nigeria to commemorate the 2011 edition of the World Music Day, marked in several countries of the world every June 21.
MSCN will take charge of the interactive session that will follow a lecture on ‘Music as Social Calendar’ to be delivered by the wind instrumentalist and music teacher, Biodun Adebiyi, aka Biodun Batik of the Music Department of the Lagos State University (LASU).
However, a musical performance by kid saxaphone sensation, TJ Sax and the Paceli School for the physically challenged band, will precede and end the World Music Day lecture scheduled for June 21 at Cinema Hall 2, National Theatre, Lagos, from 10am.
In a release by the National Troupe, the Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Martin Adaji, explained that the troupe was again joining in the commemoration as part of the efforts at making music accessible to the public. He also remarked that the decision to join other music lovers all over the world to mark the day was in line with his earlier expressed vision of reinvigorating the music department of the troupe.
According to him, “We did this last year and we think this is a day to continuously identify with since it is within our mandate as a cultural institution responsible for promoting Nigerian culture in dance, music and drama”.
The troupe’s boss also stated that the Paceli School for the Blind musical band has been invited to supply music at the event aside other side attractions. He noted, “We consider their invitation a way of encouraging them and as a way of exposing the talents that abound there. So it is going to be music and talk as we mark the world music day”.
Also called Fete de la Musique and held on every June 21, the World Music Day commemoration began formally in France as a music festival in the early 80’s and it has since then spread to many countries of the world including Nigeria where it is marked by several institutions including the French Cultural Centre.
Source: Guardian