Father of Contemporary Music in Nigeria.
Olufela Obafunmilayo Sowande popularly known as Fela Sowande was a Nigerian musician and composer.
He is considered the father of modern Nigerian Art music as he perhaps is the most internationally known African composer of works in the European classical language or terms.
He was born in Abeokuta, Nigeria on 29th May, 1905.
His career in music started as a chorister in Cathedral Church of Christ.
He studied organ under Dr. T. K Ekundayo Philips and earned the Fellowship diploma from the royal college Organists.
In 1934 He went to London to study European Classical and popular music.
He was a solo pianist in the George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue performance in 1936.
In the same year he also played in the performance of the Black Bird.
In 1939, he played the organ on recordings by popular singers Adelaide Hall and Vera Lynn.
He then studied organ privately under Edmund Rubbra, George Oldroyd, and George Cunningham and in 1943 became a fellow of the Royal College of Organists, winning the Limpus, Harding and Read Prizes.
He later moved back to Nigeria and worked with the Nigerian Broadcasting Cooperation and then later at the University of Ibadan.
-Some of his orchestral work include:
•Six Sketches for Full Orchestra
• A Folk Symphony
• African Suite for string orchestra,
- He passed on in Ravenna on 13th March 1987 and buried at Randolph township, Ohio
Some of his Organ works:
•Yorùbá Lament
•Obangiji
•Kyrie and Gloria
•Jesu Olugbala and Oba Aba Ke Pe
DunoPedia 
Nice and interesting piece. But I think the title would be better as ‘ The father of classic music’. Once again it was enlightening. Thanks
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