The Interface between African and Western Musical Creativity: An Interpretation of ‘Yemi Olaniyan’s <i>Rere Lo Pe</i>

Abstract

This article explores ‘Yemi Olaniyan’s composition Rere Lo Pe written for Solo and Piano. In the composition, the composer approaches creativity as a node of mediation: a point at which multiple forms or elements converge to convey the African and Western compromise in Modern Nigerian art music creativity. ‘Yemi Olaniyan as a composer draws on meaningful cultural forms – in this case, the model of solo-ensemble relationship. While foregrounding my discourse on the dominance of oral-written synergy in Africa's literary (written) compositions, I situate my discourse on analysis and synthesis, which is an interpretative performance model. I argue that all music in Africa is ensemble music, even when written to be performed as Solos or soloistic. My argument about ensemble ideation in solo works is based on an interpretative approach to compositional realisation in performance and its relationship to the ensemble model in the African musical art systems. I seek to promote musical creativity that hinges on cultural identity models in Nigerian art compositions.