A Philoso-Musical Analytic of the Contributions of William Wilberforce Echezona: A Pioneer Ethnomusicologist in Nigeria

Abstract

The attributes of William Wilberforce Echezona, as globally renowned ethno-musicologist portray him as a renowned African philosopher and as the foremost exponenet of African musical content, notation and values.This project is an analysis of a famous ethnomusicologist and of his roles in the development of ethnomusicology in Nigeria in terms of his contributions to the evolution of this field of study. The ethnomusicologist is William Wilberforce Chukwudinka Echezona, a second generation pioneer of Nigerian ethnomusicology whose career spans almost five decades. The researcher analysed the biography of this indelible great man of history in the domain of ethnomusicology in Nigeria. The researcher meticulously elaborated his immense roles and contribution as an ethnomusicologist to our dear nation Nigeria during his life time. The notation and structural analysis of some music types in Igbo land by this rare gem – WWC Echzona was captured in this study. The research study was prudently summarized before it was rapped to a conclusion.

Keywords: Ethnomusicology, Pioneer African musicologist, philosophy William Wilberforce Chukwudinka Echezona