MORGANABLE LIFE & CULTURE / MUSIC
The Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) opened its 2026 festival in Lagos on Sunday, October 25, bringing concerts, opera, jazz, drama and music education activities to the MUSON Centre in Onikan.
Akure —
The Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) opened its 2026 festival in Lagos on Sunday, October 25, bringing concerts, opera, jazz, drama and music education activities to the MUSON Centre in Onikan.
This year’s edition carries the theme “Music Sustained” and celebrates the society’s long contribution to musical performance and training.
It also marks important milestones in MUSON’s history, highlighting its role in developing Nigerian musicians and audiences.
The festival runs until November 8, with a programme that includes ten major concerts and a symposium.
Organisers have combined established performances with activities designed to attract wider audiences, especially young people. The programme spans classical and contemporary music, indigenous sounds, orchestral performances, theatre, exhibitions and youth events.
Through this mix, MUSON aims to show how musical traditions can remain relevant as audiences and technology change.
CELEBRATING MUSON’S HISTORY
This year’s festival recognises four milestones: 43 years of the MUSON Centre, 37 years of the MUSON Basic School of Music, the 30th edition of the festival and 20 years of the MUSON School of Music Diploma Programme.
Together, these anniversaries reflect the society’s work in performance, music education and cultural development.
They also provide an opportunity to consider how the organisation has supported musicians over several decades.
MUSON chairman Louis Mbanefo announced the programme at a press briefing on October 23.
He explained that the society began in 1983, when a group of music lovers established it to promote the performance, understanding and enjoyment of serious music.
Since 1984, MUSON has organised regular concerts featuring Nigerian and international performers. Over time, it has also developed education programmes and a venue that hosts performances and other cultural events.
The Basic School of Music teaches musical theory and instrumental performance to learners of different ages.
Meanwhile, the Diploma School offers advanced training through a two-year programme.
The MTN Foundation supports scholarships for diploma students, helping talented musicians access specialised instruction.
According to the society, the school has produced more than 500 diploma graduates, some of whom continued their studies abroad while others built careers in Nigeria.
Graduates contribute to music teaching, singing and performance in schools, churches and other settings.
In addition, MUSON’s choir, symphony orchestra and opera department provide platforms for performers to develop their skills and reach audiences.
The MUSON Choir is directed by Emeka Nwokedi, while the orchestra regularly performs with visiting German conductor Walter-Michael Vollhardt. The opera department is directed by John Eclou.
CONCERTS, CULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY
The festival’s opening programme on October 25 featured a musical brunch with live performances, followed by the opera department’s presentation of “The Mikado”.
The schedule continues with MUSON Day on October 27, when students and alumni will take part in a concert.
A jazz party follows on October 30, while two stage plays, “Jigida” and “Wanted In-Laws”, are scheduled for October 31. The orchestra concert will take place on November 1.
Another major event is the November 3 symposium, “Collabo: Music Meets Technology”.
It will explore how artificial intelligence and automation are changing music production, performance and audience experiences.
Organisers say the discussion will consider how musicians can use technology while protecting human creativity and artistic judgement.
The session is expected to bring together practitioners, students, educators and others working across the music industry.
Obi Asika, director-general of the National Council for Arts and Culture, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address.
A masterclass will also examine practical tools that can help musicians work more efficiently, including technology for isolating musical stems, identifying chords and controlling tempo.
These tools can support rehearsals and production, but they do not replace the judgement and expression performers bring to music.
The discussion reflects MUSON’s effort to engage with technological change while maintaining its musical foundations.
The programme also includes a youth variety concert on November 5, an opera performance on November 7 and a closing gala on November 8, featuring the MUSON Choir.
Alongside the performances, exhibitions and a festival village will give selected exhibitors an opportunity to display and sell items such as books, musical instruments, clothing, food and Nigerian-inspired products.
Some activities are free, while others require tickets, so visitors should check the details before attending.
MUSON’s leaders say music education remains central to the society’s work. Mbanefo has argued that learning music can help young people develop discipline, practical skills and opportunities for future employment.
He has also called for stronger public support for music education in Nigerian schools.
According to him, MUSON has relied mainly on income from its facilities and donations from individuals and private companies rather than government funding.
That support has helped the society grow from a concert-focused organisation into a centre for training and performance.
Its halls host not only music but also drama, exhibitions, film premieres and literary events.
MUSON’s experience, its leaders suggest, could inform wider efforts to strengthen music education if public institutions and private organisations worked together.
For visitors, the variety also creates opportunities to discover unfamiliar genres, meet local artists and see how training institutions help sustain the creative sector.
The festival therefore celebrates more than anniversaries. It highlights an ongoing effort to preserve musical knowledge, train new performers and make performances accessible to different audiences.
By bringing jazz, opera, orchestral music, indigenous traditions and technology discussions into one programme, the event connects different parts of Nigeria’s cultural life.
As the festival continues through November 8, audiences can attend performances and explore the changing relationship between music, education and innovation.
The anniversary celebrations give MUSON an opportunity to reflect on its history while presenting its plans for the future.
With established performers, students and new ideas sharing the programme, the 2026 festival seeks to keep music central to Nigeria’s cultural life.
