US band: Sharing the same music culture with Nigeria is something special

Mathew Anderson, assistant director, United States Naval Forces Europe Band, says Nigeria and the US share the same musical background. 

Anderson spoke at a master class for established and emerging musicians held at Lekki Coliseum, Lagos state, on Thursday.

The audience were thrilled to different music renditions by the band. Interested music lovers were also encouraged to join the band in performing.

Anderson described Nigeria’s genre of music as wonderful, saying it has also influenced music in the US.

“This is something we are travelling down to do; we are coming down as the US navy band to bring music and share that musical message, to share that camaraderie,” Anderson said.

“Music is an easy way to do that. As you can see, as soon as we started playing, the crowd started interacting, smiles on faces and we were able to communicate that way.

“So even from such different backgrounds, it is very easy to bridge that gap, just communicating music in cultures, sharing cultures is such a special thing for us.

“The band’s responsibility to achieve a partnership with other countries is to travel and share their message. Sometimes, we have opportunities with music students like in this case, we can share that. Other times, in formal ceremonies, we are able to present a different side of that but mostly travelling and meeting people, interacting through music.

“The Nigerian genre of music is wonderful. I was just talking to a gentlemen there… we share a musical background and for years it has influenced music in the United states.

“The background and history it is built on is a wonderful history that we share and we try to emulate on a day-to-day basis.”

Also speaking at the event, Daniel Baliwu, a student of the University of Lagos, said the event inspired him to learn more about playing the brass wood.

“I am not a brass wood fan but seeing the Americans play those instruments have actually inspired me,” he said.

“This is the like the first time that I would be hearing those instruments produce such beautiful sounds and I thought to myself that I could learn at least one of them before I graduate.”

Afolahanmi Olaoluwa, a musician, said the workshop would help promote brass music in Nigeria.

“With today’s performance, my knowledge of brass has increased,” he said.

“Basically, the partnership between the two countries will give this kind of music more presence in Nigeria because people don’t really patronise this kind of music here.

“We have more investors in Afro pop than in brass music, but the occurrence of events like this will help raise supporters for it.”