Press:

“The story of modern Nigerian art music unfolds like a complex musical composition itself—a narrative of cultural convergence, scholarly dedication, and the persistent quest to forge authentic artistic expression from the synthesis of seemingly disparate traditions. At the heart of this story stands a composer-ethnomusicologist whose journey from Lagos to Louisiana State University and back again illustrates both the challenges and triumphs of intercultural musical creation in the contemporary world.”
Antony Watson - Bridging Worlds: Nigeria’s Godwin Sadoh Story

“It is official, Godwin Sadoh has been named, FATHER OF MODERN NIGERIAN ART MUSIC. See 4th paragraph and scroll down to the event of this day, August 27, 2019.”
African Concert Series London - Godwin Sadoh, Father of Modern Nigerian Art Music

“Meet Godwin Sadoh, a talented Nigerian composer and multifaceted musician with an extensive background in various musical disciplines. As an ethnomusicologist, church musician, organist, pianist, and choral conductor, his expertise is both broad and deep. Apart from his performance talents, Sadoh is a prolific publishing scholar with over 100 high-quality publications to his name, including 12 books. Currently, he holds the position of Professor of Music and has shared his knowledge at numerous esteemed institutions, such as the University of Pittsburgh, Thiel College in Pennsylvania, Talladega College in Alabama, Golden West College in California, LeMoyne-Owen College in Tennessee, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.”
Efferent Verb - Meet Godwin Sadoh, A Nigerian Talented Composer

“I was specially honored at the just concluded International Africa Lyric's Opera Competition in Paris, France. A special prize was given in my name. It is tagged, “Prize of the best interpretation of the imposed aria in African Language, written by Nigerian composer, Godwin Sadoh (Orin Ayo, Yoruba)." The award was given to Waton Sonia (Soprano). My photo was printed on the diploma and all the members of the jury got my CV and aria translation. This is HUGE for me. I will forever cherish this priceless honor. Thanks to the two facilitators, Thomas Sylvand and Patricia DJomseu of the Womenofafrica Woa.”
Godwin Sadoh - International Honor

“February 21, 2015: Silvia Belfiore performed the World Premiere of Moonlight Dances for piano, in a concert captioned AFRI – NGOM UK FESTIVAL 2015, Birmingham, United Kingdom. Silvia has also premiered the Three Movement work in Germany, Italy, Ivory Coast, and Tanzania. May 11, 2015: Italian concert pianist, Silvia Belfiore, performed the Moonlight Dances for piano in a recital at the Residence of the Italian Ambassador, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She then went on to perform the same work at two other venues including the Alliance Francaise de Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on May 14, 2015. June 17, 2016: Nigerian pianist, Michael Bakare, performed “Tribute to Highlife” from Memoirs of Childhood for piano, and Theme and Variations in D Major for piano, in a Masters Piano Recital at the Creative Arts Main Auditorium, University of Lagos.”
Kakaaki Reporters - Worldwide Performances Of The Published Compositions Written By Professor Godwin

“What is unusual about this collection, is that the pieces are offered in both solo and accompanied versions. “Ise Oluwa” has both piano accompaniment and accompanied cello versions, while the remaining three are written as cello duets. The difficulty of the accompaniment cello part varies from piece to piece.”
Erica Lessie - ANALYTICAL DISCOURSE OF GODWIN SADOH'S SUITE OF NIGERIAN SONGS FOR CELLO

“February 21, 2015: Silvia Belfiore performed the World Premiere of Moonlight Dances for piano, in a concert captioned AFRI – NGOM UK FESTIVAL 2015, Birmingham, United Kingdom. Silvia has also premiered the Three Movement work in Germany, Italy, Ivory Coast, and Tanzania. May 11, 2015: Italian concert pianist, Silvia Belfiore, performed the Moonlight Dances for piano in a recital at the Residence of the Italian Ambassador, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She then went on to perform the same work at two other venues including the Alliance Francaise de Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on May 14, 2015. June 17, 2016: Nigerian pianist, Michael Bakare, performed “Tribute to Highlife” from Memoirs of Childhood for piano, and Theme and Variations in D Major for piano, in a Masters Piano Recital at the Creative Arts Main Auditorium, University of Lagos. June 21, 2019: Silvia Belfiore performed excerpts from my Three Dances for piano, at a special concert tagged, “BLACK LANDS: A TRIBUTE ”
Kakaaki Reporters - Worldwide Performances Of The Published Compositions Written By Professor Godwin

“The musical experiences of the Four Sowande brothers in Nigeria and England.”
Uchenna Ngwe - The Four Sowande Brothers

“The Minnesota Philharmonic Orchestra will perform my Award-Winning piece, Egba Musical Totem for String Quartet (Lulu/GSS Publications), in a special virtual concert tagged "Beginnings," on Saturday, November 21, 2020, at 7PM.”
Godwin Sadoh - United States Premiere

“The second Nigerian woman to earn a PhD in music turned 80 on August 27, 2020. She is an ethnomusicologist, operatic soprano, educator, choral conductor, and broadcaster.”
Godwin Sadoh - Celebrating Dr. Joy Nwosu Lo-Bamijoko at 80

“Akin Euba was born in Lagos, Nigeria, on April 28, 1935. He began his musical training in Lagos before proceeding to England for advanced studies. He studied at the Trinity College of Music, University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Ghana, Legon, under the supervision of Prof. Kwabena Nketia.”
Godwin Sadoh - Akin Euba: Foremost Nigerian Composer-Ethnomusicologist Dies at 84

“To celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth, our students will be learning and playing music by some prominent black composers as well as discussing their achievements. We're pleased to highlight those composers on our website and social media, and next up is Godwin Sadoh - Pianist and Composer.”
Sistema Toronto - Godwin Sadoh: Black History Month Honoree

“The Nigerian Wedding Dance for Concert Band and Percussion Instruments is a lively piece based on the rhythmic and harmonic organization of a popular West African pop music called “Highlife.” One of the features of highlife music in the piece is the frequent appearances of the principal theme especially in the brass section. This theme is borrowed from a Yoruba popular wedding song titled, “Awa l’egbe oniyawo” (We are the members of the bride’s group). Dramatic and playful sections are clearly marked by abrupt silences and contrapuntal phrases.”
Godwin Sadoh - Nigerian Wedding Dance for Concert Band

“The Choir of St. Jude’s Cathedral under the direction of Tola Ojuri, will perform my Gbo Ohun Awon Angeli for SATB and piano, and Keresimesi Odun De for SATB and piano.”
AfriClassical Blog - Christmas Concert

“Midori Samson performed the Wisconsin Premiere of Godwin Sadoh's Ola Ilu for Bassoon solo, on Friday November 1, 2019, at the Michelsen Hall, Noel Fine Arts Center, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point.”
AfriClassical Blog - Wisconsin Premiere of Ola Ilu for Bassoon Solo

“This post is dedicated to Nigerian composer and ethnomusicologist, Joshua Uzoigwe (July 1, 1946 – October 15, 2005). I recently received an email from Professor Godwin Sadoh, who has been an avid supporter of the work that has gone into creating this site. As a prolific scholar of African Art Music in particular, he was kind enough to provide me with a complete list of his publications featuring the life and work of Uzoigwe and "specifically set to preserve his legacy and meritorious contributions to Nigerian art music."”
Uchenna Ngwe - Remembering Joshua Uzoigwe

“Following the success of the first programmes of African Art Music at the October Gallery, earlier this year, curated by Artistic Director Rebeca Omordia, a further seven have been scheduled up to December 2019. Omordia’s aim was to establish a platform for African Art Music, the richly diverse genre of music that originated in Ghana and Nigeria, which forms a bridge between Western classical music and traditional African music. The October Gallery is in Old Gloucester St, Bloomsbury, London WC1, and concerts begin at 7.30pm and last until 9.00pm. Tickets cost £10 and can be purchased via Eventbrite or on the door. The programmes take place every month on June 20, July 17, September 19, October 6, November 1 and 29 and December 5 and feature composers from Nigeria, Uganda, Morocco and Guadeloupe including Godwin Sadoh often referred to as the father of modern Nigerian Art music, Justinian Tamusuza blending traditional Ugandan styles with Western music, the celebrated Ayo Bankole.”
The African Concert Series, London - Godwin Sadoh, Father of Modern Nigerian Art Music.

“I am extremely elated to inform you that my highly anticipated book is finally in print. It celebrates 100th anniversary of the oldest choir in Nigeria (1918-2018), documenting accurate facts from the 19th century into the 21st century. It covers every aspects of the music ministry at the renowned Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos: church history, history of the organs from the first little bitty harmonium in the 1800s to the present magnificent ultra-modern 4 manual Oberlinger organ, worship experience, choir ministry, choir training, ex-choristers (Fela Sowande, Christopher Oyesiku, Samuel Akpabot, Ayo Bankole, Lazarus Ekwueme and Godwin Sadoh), Cathedral musicians, outstanding musical activities, recordings, musical analyses, extra-musical deeds, Choir Wives' Association etc. The book is loaded with a lot of extant photos spanning several decades.”
Godwin Sadoh - Centenary of the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos

“My compositions exemplify the process of intercultural music as three distinct cultures are vividly and copiously utilized in them; these cultures are Nigerian/African, European, and American. Jazz idiom in some of my early piano works is the major American influence on my music. As regards Nigeria, it could be further broken down to the influence of the Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa cultural traits. In terms of Africa as a continent, I have incorporated elements from South Africa and Ghana into my piano works especially the ten-movement Childhood Dreams. The Nigerian musical elements are quite glaring in my music because I always want my music to be conceptualized in that way, music written by a modern Nigerian composer. I deliberately make painstaking efforts to infuse a lot of Nigerian musical flavors into my music. Hence, I employ Nigerian traditional, popular, and church music resources in my compositions. Some of these elements are the rhythmic patterns, tonal organizations etc”
Dr. Jeannine Jordan - Pro-Motion Music Interview Godwin Sadoh

“Half a century of music making in Nigeria has indeed witnessed giant strides, development, transformation, assimilation, and acculturation. This book succinctly presents a holistic discourse of musicality in Nigeria from the 1960s through the technological age of the 21st century transmitted through European and American cultures. It examines cogent topics such as traditional and popular music, art music, church music, choral activities, composers and their works, performance practices, maintenance of musical instruments, the impact of radio and television stations, feminine quantum leaps, music publishing, music technology, archival centers, copyright society, Nollywood music, and music entrepreneurship.”
Prof. Godwin Sadoh - Five Decades of Music Transmutation in Nigeria and the Diaspora

“ON THIS DAY - October 7, 2015: Nigerian foremost basso profundo, classical music connoisseur, conductor extraordinaire, and music educator, Pa Christopher Oyesiku is 90 Today! Christopher is the FIRST Nigerian professionally-trained musician to attain the Nonagenarian status. I celebrate and honor him with this publication:”
Prof. Godwin Sadoh - Remembering Christopher Oyesiku at 90: Nigerian Conductor Extraordinaire

“Ayo Bankole was born on May 17, 1935, at Jos, in Plateau State of Nigeria. Bankole spent the first five years of his life with his father, the late Theophilus Abiodun Bankole, who was the organist and choirmaster at St. Luke’s Anglican Church, Jos, at the time. His mother was also an active musician. She was a music instructor for several years at Queen’s School, Ede, Osun State, a Federal Government high school. Bankole’s father noticed the gift of music in his son at an early age; hence, in 1941 he moved the young Bankole to live with his grandfather, Akinje George, in Lagos, who was then the organist and choirmaster at the First Baptist Church, Lagos. Bankole received his first lessons in piano and harmonium from his grandfather, who introduced him to various types of musical styles, and, when the boy was age seven, would often ask Bankole to play for his friends, thereby showing off the innate genius of his grandson.”
Prof. Godwin Sadoh - AYO BANKOLE @ 80

“The emergence of these books in Nigeria may serve as catalyst in the sector. In particular, the art music sector where scholars, lecturers and even performers are always in need of historical background knowledge of these reputable artistes and their works. Of more importance is the musicological approach adopted for this works. Unlike the usual norms of loosely profiling the artistes, more efforts are applied to analyse the works and examine the circumstances of composition and the various influences, cultural or otherwise, that might have informed the style of composing and performance. Insightful thoughts on African music is another valuable issues discussed in these books. While the efforts of this scholar, (Professor Sadoh) is acknowledged, the nation awaits the appearance of these books on the book stands, libraries and achieves nationwide.”
Bayo Ogunyemi - Art Music Performance & Training in Nigeria: A Review

“A study of the organ works of Greek-American composer, Dinos Constantinides, would elucidate the creative processes, complexities, and intrigues involved in composing for organ in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.”
Prof. Godwin Sadoh - The Organ Works of Dinos Constantinides

“The long anticipated recording of my "Ise Oluwa for SATB" (Wayne Leupold Editions 2007) has just been released on commercial CD by MISSIO CHOR WURZBURG in Germany. Please buy copies for yourselves, friends, libraries, archives, music departments, and schools as Christmas gifts.”
Prof. Godwin Sadoh - CD RELEASE IN GERMANY

“After completing my studies at the University of Pittsburgh, I did a soul search for an area that is quite challenging where no African has ever ventured into. I also knew I will be returning to Nigeria to teach one day. Hence, I asked myself, what are some of the areas of specializations in music that we lack in Nigerian university curricula? I knew there was a need to train organists for the fast growing church ministries in Nigeria, and I also knew that there was no university offering organ performance in Nigeria. That was how I decided to cross over from musicology to organ and church music. But in all my academic pursuits in the United States, I combined all the musical areas: Research, publication, composition, performance, teaching, and entrepreneurship. . . I was aware of the shortage of text books in Nigerian higher institutions. Consequently, I wrote the books as my own contribution to alleviate the paucity. And I wanted Nigerian art music to be taught as a subject.”
Prof. Godwin Sadoh - Sunday Newswatch

“Mark Spalding will be performing my Nigerian Organ Symphony for the second time this year in Aberdeen, Scotland.”
Godwin Sadoh - Nigerian Organ Symphony

“Professor Godwin Sadoh isn’t a new entrant into the Nigerian arts music community. He dominated the scene as a pianist before he left the shores of this country in 1993. This erudite scholar actually cut his teeth in the cosmopolitan Lagos as a young music learner in the 1980s. He had his preliminary training in music in and around Lagos before obtaining his first degree in 1988 and five years later, he left for the United States of America in search of further trainings and greener pastures. For 20 years, he traversed the length and breadth of American universities, acquiring degrees, knowledge, skills and experiences. In 1998, this young African bagged his master’s degree in African ethnomusicology in the University of Pittsburgh. In the year 2000, he had his second masters, M. Mus, in Organ performance and church music, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In 2004, he had his PhD (D. Mus) (Organ Performance and Composition in Louisiana State University. He was 1st Afr. with PhD in or”
Bayo Ogunyemi - I am Back To Give Back - Prof. Godwin Sadoh

“Godwin Sadoh's newly published piano work consists of ten miniatures pieces based on African melodic and scintillating rhythms. Most of the pieces are derivations of folk tunes from Nigeria and other African nations!”
Godwin Sadoh - Childhood Dreams for Piano

““This book, the Doyen of Nigerian Church Music, gives an excellent record of Dr. T. K. E. Phillips' remarkable accomplishments. The first chapter of the book gives a very interesting and insightful account of the emergence of the African and contemporary churches in Nigeria. It includes the historical aspect to the emergence of the large number of various Christian denominations that I am certain will be of immense interest to not only Nigerian historians, but to members of the various churches interested in the origins of their church, and also to theologians in the various seminaries and departments of religious studies in the universities.””
Christopher Oyesiku - Thomas Ekundayo Phillips Book Review

“ Visit Amazon.com's Godwin Sadoh Page and shop for all Godwin Sadoh books and other Godwin Sadoh related products (DVD, CDs, Apparel). Check out pictures, bibliography, biography and community discussions about Godwin Sadoh. ”
Godwin Sadoh - Godwin Sadoh's Books on Amazon

“14 Books by Godwin Sadoh”
Godwin Sadoh - Godwin Sadoh's Books on Amazon

“Through this experience, Nigerian composers began to appropriate musical resources from other world cultures. The church musicians use heroic figures from the Bible to compose sacred cantatas, anthems, and other festive musicals for divine worship in Nigeria. Herein lays the beginning of a special musical connectivity between Nigeria and the nation of Israel. Since Israel is the focal point in both the Old and New Testaments, Nigerian church musicians compose large choral works based on valiant figures such as Moses, Joshua, Jacob and Esau, Samson, Daniel, Elijah, Jonah, Saul (the first King of Israel), David, Solomon, Paul, and Jesus Christ. It is interesting to observe Nigerians, composing music about the politics, social lifestyle, and culture of the people of Israel. One of the most prominent of these Nigerian church musicians was Thomas Ekundayo Phillips—a.k.a. the father of Nigerian church music. ”
Godwin Sadoh - Thomas Ekundayo Phillips’s Cantata: A Musical Epic of Israel

“After Thomas Ekundayo Phillips’s era, professionally trained musicians in Nigeria continue to express their interest and fascination for the Israeli’s religious, socio-political, and cultural worldviews. Emulating Philips’s legacy, the second and third generations of Nigerian art musicians wrote standard organ works and large choral compositions such as cantatas, sacred operas, and anthems based on Biblical stories about the overarching power of God, imperialism, emancipation, miracles, benevolence, provision, righteousness, shalom, Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Nisi, and eminent personalities in the Old and New Testaments.”
Godwin Sadoh - Samuel Akpabot’s Verba Christi: A Dramatic Oeuvre on the Words of Jesus

“Together, the three titles reviewed here present a rich picture of music making in Nigeria in the 20th century, with special reference to church and organ.”
Prof. David Baker - Godwin Sadoh: Three Books Review--The Organ 86, No. 343