Bio

Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, I am a musicologist, interdisciplinary scholar, educator, and musician. I am a McKnight Fellow and PhD candidate in (Ethno)Musicology at Florida State University (FSU). As an inaugural fellow, I recently completed the Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship (Mellon/ACLS DIF), which supports interdisciplinary and innovative research in the humanities and interpretive social sciences. The Mellon/ACLS DIF is awarded to scholars “who show promise [in] leading their fields in important new directions.”

My formal journey in music began at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) School of Music, Lagos, where I was awarded a full scholarship and stipend by the MTN Foundation and graduated as the “Best Overall Student.” While studying for my Associate Diploma in music, I acquired advanced certificates in music theory, percussion playing, and piano playing from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) and Trinity College of Music, London. I continued my academic journey thereafter, first at San Jacinto College, Texas. Subsequently, I earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Texas at Tyler and a master’s degree in musicology from Florida State University. Additionally, I am a certified EC-12 music educator in Texas.​

​

Beyond research and teaching, I have been actively involved in public-facing works. I am committed to bridging the gap between scholarly research and public engagement. I place my scholarly activities in the service of the larger society.

 

As the artistic director of the African Art Music Commissioning Project (AAMCP), I address the gap between Pan-African art music scholarship, composition, and performance. The AAMCP commissions and programs compositions that use Afrocentric musical resources, processes, elements, and theoretical frameworks pertinent to the Pan-African musical landscape. This project amplifies marginalized voices and promotes diversity within the art/classical music landscape while encouraging Afrocentric approaches to art music composition. My public engagements are not simply an act of coupling a service project with an intellectual one; both inform one another, bringing scholarly scrutiny to bear on matters and issues that face the communities I represent.

Ultimately, I aim to inspire those I encounter through scholarship, teaching, and service to partake in our shared humanity and embrace our inherent differences.