Nigeria: Here’s what you can see at MUSON Festival 2019

The event was first held in 1997 as a mini festival and has grown to include a variety of activities, including concerts, operas, theatre performances and workshops.

"The idea of a full-scale festival continued to germinate and blossomed into a plan to hold a one-week festival, which coincided not only with the third anniversary of the MUSON Centre but also with the 80th birthday of our first chairman, and patron, the late Chief Ayo Rosiji,” MUSON vice-chairperson Louis Mbanefo said. "Adding further that the festival has pointed the path MUSON is destined to follow, namely to become the centre for all arts at the highest level and the premier venue for the arts in West Africa.

The festival will begin with the grand finale of the MusiQuest youth competition and an art exhibition titled Music Meets Arts in partnership with the Society of Nigerian Artists.

The following day will feature a festival personality programme titled My Kind of Music as well as a performance of Don Pasquale for the Danjuma Festival Opera series.

The festival will then stage Wat's Dis All About? play on Saturday and Sunday. The play was written and directed by Toyin Oshinaike and is based on Woza Albert, created by Mbongeni Ngema, Percy Mtwa and Barney Simon in 1981 apartheid South Africa.

"It's adaptation to the Nigerian socio-political situation is a satirical commentary based on the hilarious idea of the coming of a messiah to Nigeria and the expectations of the common man for a better life,” MUSON said.

Sunday has also been reserved for a second performance of Don Pasquale, while Igbeyawo – The Musical, this year’s alumni concert, will take place on Monday. The Rebecca Festival Masterclass will follow on Tuesday.

The festival continues next Wednesday with International Cultural Night, which will feature performances from dance troupes representing Nigeria, Azerbaijan, China, Colombia and Brazil.

Classical pianist Rebeca Omordia will perform on Thursday alongside MUSON artists, while MUSON Day, which celebrates the society’s anniversary with a cocktail party and concert, is scheduled for Friday.

The Festival Jazz Party and Total Festival Gala Concert featuring Michael Volihardt, Rebeca Omordia, the MUSON Choir and MUSON Symphony Orchestra will then take place on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

View the full programme here.