The traditional classical canon is getting a vibrant, long-overdue makeover thanks to a new wave of African virtuosos. Nigerian pianist Rebeca Omordia has spent eight years building Wigmore Hall’s African Concert Series, introducing London audiences to composers and instruments such as Nigeria’s ọjà flute and Kenya’s nyatiti lute, rarely heard on prestigious stages. There is also Ethiopia’s Girma Yifrashewa, a pianist and composer who incorporates Ethiopian musical traditions into his work. South African cellist Abel Selaocoe draws inspiration from South African musical traditions, particularly the Indigenous Khoisan people. Meanwhile, Selaocoe’s countryman, Bongani Ndodana-Breen, draws on his Xhosa heritage to create compositions that explore cultural and post-apartheid identity. By blending indigenous heritage with orchestral grandeur, these visionaries are proving that African classical music doesn’t just belong on the world stage—it enriches it.
African Business
