The anthem came to Lagos by steamer, but the men of the parish organ-loft did not come with it. No record has been found that Mr Caleb Simper, Mr J. H. Maunder, or any of the 93 working composers in the earlier list ever set foot in West Africa. Their music went by post.
The chief carriers were Africans. Mr T. K. E. Phillips of Lagos studied at Trinity College of Music, London, from 1911 to 1914. On Good Friday 1916 his choir at Christ Church gave Stainer’s Crucifixion, by the cathedral’s own account the first such cantata in Nigeria. He kept the post for 48 years and taught Fela Sowande, Ayo Bankole and others.
The Gold Coast took the road of the correspondence diploma. Mr J. E. Allotey-Pappoe of Accra held the Fellowship of the Victoria College of Music, London, before 1910, without leaving the colony. At Peki he taught the young Ephraim Amu, who went on to the Royal College of Music in 1937.
Before them came the missions. Gottlieb Bühler, a Basel man in the service of the C.M.S., taught singing and the harmonium at Abeokuta in 1861. An English vicar, Mr Hamlyn, put the Lagos choir into surplices in 1900, with men and boys in the stalls. At least 10 English organs were shipped to Lagos, Cape Coast, Accra and Freetown between 1895 and 1915.
Of the 52 persons, 37 are documented by a contemporary record or a cited modern study, 1 is probable, and 14 rest on a single loose source. Present-day claims of popularity are kept apart from the colonial record.
None of them is recorded as having gone. Caleb Simper (Worcester, then Barnstaple) and J. H. Maunder (Royal Academy of Music; London churches) show no travel, posting or pupil in West Africa in any dictionary checked. Among the 93, overseas travel is recorded only for M. B. Foster (Trinity examiner in Australia and South Africa), W. H. Jude (Australia and New Zealand), Oliver King (Canada) and J. A. Wolstenholme (USA). Of the cathedral-lineage masters, only Stainer and Walford Davies show up in West Africa, and only through their music: Stainer’s The Crucifixion (Lagos, 1916) and The Daughter of Jairus (organ-fund tours, c.1927–32), and Walford Davies’s The Temple (Lagos, undated). No colonial-era programme naming Simper or Maunder was found. Their present popularity, if real, came through hymnals, Novello octavos, exam syllabuses and the choirs these Africans built.
Each arrow is a sourced link in the Links sheet, with its place, years and evidence level shown beneath.
25 persons
In West Africa: Lagos (arr. end 1855); Abeokuta 1856; Ibadan 1856–57; Breadfruit chapel, Lagos 1857; CMS Training Institution, Abeokuta 1858–64; left Lagos 7 Feb 1865
Training: Schoolmaster training (Germany); Basel Mission College 1851–54; CMS College, Islington 1854; ordained deacon, London 1855
Activity: By c.1861 had added "singing" and "a small beginning … in playing the harmonium" to the Training Institution curriculum (his reports, CMS C/A2/O24/45, cited by DACB). Coker’s family history says Coker studied music "at Abeokuta under Mr. Buhler" 1861–64.
Earlier lineage files: No (Basel / CMS route, not English cathedral or conservatoire)
The earliest datable classroom of European music teaching in this list. The music link to Coker rests on a family-compiled source.
DACB: Buhler, Gottlieb Friederick (K. Olabimtan; cites CMS archives) · Jibolu-Taiwo family history: Rev. Robert Arungbamolu Coker (PDF; family-compiled)
In West Africa: Abeokuta 1861–64; England (or Germany) 1870s/1880; Lagos: CMS Female Institute music master to 1894; first organist, Christ Church (later Cathedral), Lagos; Ijebu mission 1896–1909
Training: CMS Training Institution, Abeokuta, under Bühler 1861–64; abroad: England 1880, a nine-month course (family history; Omojola) or Germany 1874 (Adeogun citing Omojola 1995) or Germany 1871 (Sadoh 2008)
Activity: Formed the first Christ Church choir in 1895; annual Western-style concerts in Lagos with Nathaniel King (Lagos Observer 1882, cited by Omojola), remembered as the "Coker Concerts" and a Handel festival (Adeogun; family history); member of the committee for the music edition of the CMS Yoruba Hymn Book.
Repertory named: Handel (festival; Messiah per Diapason)
Earlier lineage files: No named teacher; no link found to the earlier files
Sources conflict on where (England or Germany) and when (1871, 1874, 1880) he studied, and on his death year. Omojola 1995 (IFRA) could not be checked: the site blocks automated access.
The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) · The Diapason: "Celebrating the Centennial of the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, 1918-2018" · Cathedral Church of Christ, Lagos: Cathedral Choir, a brief history · Jibolu-Taiwo family history: Rev. Robert Arungbamolu Coker (PDF; family-compiled) · B. Omojola, "Music Education in Nigeria: Historical Trends" (text copy on silo.tips) · A. O. Adeogun, Music education in Nigeria 1842-2001, PhD thesis, Univ. of Pretoria 2006, ch. 5 (PDF)
In West Africa: Lagos: choirmaster, St John’s, Aroloya (1882)
Training: Not stated
Activity: Helped Coker run the annual Western-style concerts (Lagos Observer 1882, cited by Omojola).
Earlier lineage files: No
Single secondary mention.
B. Omojola, "Music Education in Nigeria: Historical Trends" (text copy on silo.tips)
In West Africa: Lagos: vicar of Christ Church; in post by 1885 and still in 1900
Training: Not stated
Activity: 1885 reorganised the choir (19 men, two women); 1887 reported falling attendance because the Yoruba congregation could not follow English prayers and hymns; 1900, with a new reed organ, replaced the women with men and boys in surplices, set up choir stalls; soon after a pipe organ was ordered (Harrison, 1901, per DOO).
Repertory named: English cathedral practice (men-and-boys choir)
Earlier lineage files: Not found in the earlier files
The clearest named Englishman who carried the English cathedral choir model to West Africa. His own training and first names were not found.
The Nation (Lagos), 19 May 2017: "Everlasting spiritual influence of Cathedral Church of Christ" (150th-anniversary history) · The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) · Cathedral Church of Christ, Lagos: Cathedral Choir, a brief history · Dictionary of Organs and Organists, 2nd ed. (1921), overseas organ list, "West Africa" (archive.org)
In West Africa: Christ Church, Lagos: short appointments after Hamlyn (Kuye 1904); Lacton until 1914
Training: Not stated
Activity: Interim organists between Hamlyn’s reorganisation and Phillips’s appointment in 1914.
Earlier lineage files: No
One row for three names given only in one source.
In West Africa: Lagos
Training: Not stated
Activity: Gave his nephew his first organ lessons.
Earlier lineage files: No
Wikipedia: Thomas King Ekundayo Phillips · G. Sadoh, "Thomas Ekundayo Phillips: Pioneer in Nigerian Church Hymn Composition", The Diapason, Mar. 2008 (PDF)
In West Africa: Organist, St Paul’s (Wikipedia; "Saint Paul’s Church, Aroloya")
Training: Not stated
Activity: Gave Phillips organ lessons before 1911.
Earlier lineage files: No
Wikipedia only.
In West Africa: Lagos: organist St Paul’s, Breadfruit (9 years from age 18, Sadoh) and St John’s, Aroloya; London 1911–14; Organist and Master of the Music, Christ Church/Cathedral Church of Christ, Lagos, Trinity Sunday 1914 – Trinity Sunday 1962; fund-raising concert tours in Nigeria and London for the 1932 organ
Training: Organ from his uncle Johnson Phillips and S. M. Daniels; Trinity College of Music, London, 1911–14 (organ, piano, violin); FTCL
Activity: First choir festival 23 Nov 1918; conducted Stainer’s The Crucifixion on Good Friday 1916 ("the first Good Friday cantata concert in Nigeria", cathedral historians); raised money for the 1932 organ with choir concerts round Lagos, at Abeokuta (24 Aug 1930) and at Ibadan, mostly of his own Yoruba songs, and in England in 1927 (his songs sung by St George’s Church choir on 23 Oct 1927 and recorded by HMV); per Sadoh (2008) the tour programmes also included Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Stainer’s The Daughter of Jairus, and the money bought a three-manual Abbott & Smith organ in 1932; 1926 proposal to the Lagos Synod for "native airs"; versicles and responses in Yoruba published by Novello (1926); coached choirboys for Trinity College external exams; Hon. DMus, Nsukka 1964.
Repertory named: Stainer (The Crucifixion, 1916; The Daughter of Jairus on the organ-fund tours); Mendelssohn (Elijah); Bach and Rheinberger (introduced to Fela Sowande)
Earlier lineage files: Institution only: Trinity College London is in the task-5 institutions sheet. His London teachers were not found.
The central figure. The only documented performance in this file of a work by a composer from the earlier lineage files (Stainer) falls under him.
Wikipedia: Thomas King Ekundayo Phillips · G. Sadoh, "Thomas Ekundayo Phillips: Pioneer in Nigerian Church Hymn Composition", The Diapason, Mar. 2008 (PDF) · The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) · The Diapason: "Celebrating the Centennial of the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, 1918-2018" · The Nation (Lagos), 19 May 2017: "Everlasting spiritual influence of Cathedral Church of Christ" (150th-anniversary history) · "The Centenary Celebration of Christopher Oyesiku", SSR J. of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (PDF)
In West Africa: Abeokuta; Lagos: music teacher, CMS Girls’ School 1879–c.1886; Gbagura, Abeokuta 1891; Sunren-Ifo district 1896–1906; St Peter’s, Ake, from 1911; canon of Lagos cathedral 1922
Training: CMS Training Institution, Abeokuta (from age 9, "excelling particularly in music"); CMS Training Institute, Lagos 1871–76
Activity: Set Christian texts to Yoruba melodies; his "native airs" form the appendix of the CMS Yoruba hymnal Iwe Orin Mimo (1923), whose preface argues that no hymn tune can express the words of a tonal language; recorded Yoruba hymns for Zonophone, 1925.
Repertory named: Translated English hymns (Iwe Orin Mimo, 1923)
Earlier lineage files: No. Never trained in Britain (DACB records only a Holy Land visit, 1922)
Shows the counter-current: the mission-trained musician who adapted the imported hymn rather than simply reproducing it.
DACB: Ransome-Kuti, Josiah Jesse · Wikipedia: Josiah Ransome-Kuti · A. Carter-Ényì, "Hooked on Sol-Fa: the do-re-mi heuristic for Yorùbá speech tones", Africa (2018) · T. O. Owoaje, "Intercultural expressions in the Yorùbá native air tradition of Rev. Canon J. J. Ransome-Kútì", African Musicology Online 10/1 (2021)
In West Africa: Ebute Metta, Lagos; Abeokuta
Training: Not stated
Activity: A harmonium piece by "E. Sowande of Ebute Metta" was played at the Abeokuta Choral Society concert of 1898 (Bender 1985, quoted by Adeogun). Father of Fela and Tunji Sowande.
Earlier lineage files: No
Training not found.
Wikipedia: Tunji Sowande · Wikipedia: Fela Sowande · A. O. Adeogun, Music education in Nigeria 1842-2001, PhD thesis, Univ. of Pretoria 2006, ch. 5 (PDF)
In West Africa: Abeokuta
Training: Not stated
Activity: Directed the 1898 concert that opened with Handel’s "But thou didst not leave my soul in hell" in Yoruba translation (Bender 1985, quoted by Adeogun).
Repertory named: Handel (Messiah aria in Yoruba, 1898)
Earlier lineage files: No
Probably Daniel Olubi of the CMS; identity not confirmed.
A. O. Adeogun, Music education in Nigeria 1842-2001, PhD thesis, Univ. of Pretoria 2006, ch. 5 (PDF)
In West Africa: Lagos to 1934; London 1934 – c.1952 (Colonial Film Unit; BBC Africa talks; organist and choirmaster, West London Mission 1945–52); Lagos 1952: music director, Nigerian Broadcasting Service; later University of Ibadan
Training: Chorister under T. K. E. Phillips at Christ Church, Lagos; CMS Grammar School; King’s College, Lagos. London from 1934: organ privately with George Oldroyd, G. D. Cunningham and Edmund Rubbra; FRCO 1943 (Limpus, Harding and Read prizes); BMus (London); FTCL
Activity: Gave Ayo Bankole advanced organ lessons (Omojola, cited by Adeogun); Musical Director of the Nigerian Broadcasting Service 1952; MBE 1955.
Repertory named: Bach, Rheinberger (introduced by Phillips, Wikipedia)
Earlier lineage files: Institutions only (RCO, Trinity). Oldroyd, Cunningham and Rubbra are not in the earlier files.
His London career falls mainly after 1940.
Wikipedia: Fela Sowande · The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) · A. O. Adeogun, Music education in Nigeria 1842-2001, PhD thesis, Univ. of Pretoria 2006, ch. 5 (PDF)
In West Africa: Lagos: assistant organist of the cathedral 1933; Durham 1940s; Organist and Master of the Music, Lagos cathedral, Trinity Sunday 1962 – 1992
Training: Organ from his father T. K. E. Phillips; Durham University (organ with J. A. Westrup), graduating with distinction in June 1946 (Diapason); Royal School of Church Music, 1976
Activity: President of the Union of Organists and Choirmasters, Lagos; during his tenure the choir sang all three parts of Messiah every three years (Diapason 2008).
Repertory named: Handel; Bach
Earlier lineage files: No (Westrup is not in the earlier files)
The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) · Wikipedia: Thomas King Ekundayo Phillips · The Nation (Lagos), 19 May 2017: "Everlasting spiritual influence of Cathedral Church of Christ" (150th-anniversary history)
In West Africa: Lagos (from c.1933); Ibadan Grammar School to 1947; Britain (dates not found)
Training: Chorister from c.1933 under T. K. E. Phillips, who taught him theory, musicianship and voice and coached him for Trinity College of Music graded external examinations; later studied music in Great Britain
Activity: Lagos Musical Society choir, late 1940s (Gilbert & Sullivan).
Repertory named: Gilbert & Sullivan
Earlier lineage files: No
"The Centenary Celebration of Christopher Oyesiku", SSR J. of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (PDF) · Wikipedia: Thomas King Ekundayo Phillips
In West Africa: Lagos 1940s; London 1954–; Nsukka 1960 (foundation staff)
Training: Chorister under T. K. E. Phillips, early 1940s (sang Messiah and Elijah there, per Diapason 2008); London from 1954: Royal College of Music and Trinity College of Music; later Chicago and Michigan State
Repertory named: Handel, Mendelssohn (as chorister)
Earlier lineage files: Institutions only (RCM, Trinity)
Training falls after 1950.
The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) · A. O. Adeogun, Music education in Nigeria 1842-2001, PhD thesis, Univ. of Pretoria 2006, ch. 5 (PDF) · B. Omojola, "Music Education in Nigeria: Historical Trends" (text copy on silo.tips)
In West Africa: Lagos; London 1957–; Cambridge; Los Angeles; Lagos 1966 (NBC; University of Lagos 1969)
Training: Pupil of T. K. E. Phillips (Omojola) and of Fela Sowande (advanced organ); Guildhall School of Music, London, from 1957; Clare College, Cambridge; UCLA (Rockefeller fellowship)
Earlier lineage files: Institution only (Guildhall)
Post-1960 career; included as the third generation of the Lagos chain.
Wikipedia: Ayo Bankole · Wikipedia: Thomas King Ekundayo Phillips · A. O. Adeogun, Music education in Nigeria 1842-2001, PhD thesis, Univ. of Pretoria 2006, ch. 5 (PDF)
In West Africa: Lagos (dates not found)
Training: Named by Wikipedia among T. K. E. Phillips’s pupils
Earlier lineage files: No
Pupil link is in Wikipedia only; career is post-1960.
In West Africa: Lagos (1940s–1952)
Training: Not stated
Activity: Gave Akin Euba private piano lessons and recommended him for a government scholarship to Trinity College, London, 1952 (Omojola, cited by Adeogun).
Earlier lineage files: No
A. O. Adeogun, Music education in Nigeria 1842-2001, PhD thesis, Univ. of Pretoria 2006, ch. 5 (PDF)
In West Africa: Lagos; London 1952–
Training: Piano with Major J. G. C. Allen; Trinity College of Music, London, from 1952 (harmony, counterpoint, composition, piano)
Earlier lineage files: Institution only (Trinity)
Post-1950.
A. O. Adeogun, Music education in Nigeria 1842-2001, PhD thesis, Univ. of Pretoria 2006, ch. 5 (PDF)
In West Africa: Nsukka 1960 (foundation teacher, Fela Sowande School of Music)
Training: Trinity College of Music, London; Michigan State University; "Nigeria’s first Doctor of music"
Earlier lineage files: Institution only (Trinity)
Post-1950.
B. Omojola, "Music Education in Nigeria: Historical Trends" (text copy on silo.tips)
In West Africa: Lagos: Pratt School of Music 1940–53
Training: Not stated
Activity: The school "initiated training in Western music to a professional level in Nigeria"; it closed in 1953 after the founder’s death (Omojola). Adeogun lists it beside the "Lagos Center of Trinity College of Music".
Earlier lineage files: Institution only: the school was affiliated to the Royal Academy of Music
First name not found. It could not be confirmed that he is the "Ishmael Pratt" named in the brief.
B. Omojola, "Music Education in Nigeria: Historical Trends" (text copy on silo.tips) · A. O. Adeogun, Music education in Nigeria 1842-2001, PhD thesis, Univ. of Pretoria 2006, ch. 5 (PDF)
In West Africa: Lagos; south-west Nigeria
Training: Pratt School of Music, Lagos: diploma 1945
Earlier lineage files: No
From Omojola’s interview with him.
B. Omojola, "Music Education in Nigeria: Historical Trends" (text copy on silo.tips)
In West Africa: Uzuakoli Leprosy Settlement, Eastern Nigeria: director 1936–59
Training: Medical; music self-taught from the Methodist hymn book (Achinivu, quoted by Lepra)
Activity: "Taught [Harcourt Whyte] everything he knew about music, that he acquired by studying the Methodist hymn book"; later recorded local songs on his rounds for Whyte to use.
Repertory named: Methodist Hymn Book
Earlier lineage files: No
A Methodist, not cathedral, line of descent.
Lepra centenary: Ikoli Harcourt Whyte · BBC News: "Letter from Africa: The Nigerian who composed hymns from a leprosy colony" · Wikipedia: Harcourt Whyte
In West Africa: Port Harcourt (1920s); Uzuakoli from 1932
Training: Music from Dr Frank Davey at Uzuakoli (from 1932/36)
Activity: Over 200 (Lepra) or 600 (Wikipedia) Igbo hymns and compositions; choir of leprosy patients that toured Nigeria.
Repertory named: Methodist hymnody
Earlier lineage files: No
Lepra centenary: Ikoli Harcourt Whyte · Wikipedia: Harcourt Whyte · BBC News: "Letter from Africa: The Nigerian who composed hymns from a leprosy colony"
In West Africa: CMS missionary, Lagos; Bishop of Western Equatorial Africa from 1894; Bishop on the Niger 1919–21; returned to England 1921
Training: Not a musician
Activity: Invited Phillips in 1914 to become organist and master of the music at Christ Church, Lagos.
Earlier lineage files: No
Patron, not musician.
Wikipedia: Thomas King Ekundayo Phillips · Wikipedia: Herbert Tugwell
22 persons
In West Africa: Cape Coast; Nigeria 1900–1940 (UAC, then Nigerian civil service, treasury); Gold Coast from 1940
Training: Not stated
Activity: "Trained and prepared many Ghanaian and Nigerian musicians to sit for … the examinations of the Trinity College of Music and the Victoria College of Music"; hymn tunes and songs, including The Negro Race and the anthem Hosanna in the Highest!, which Andoh describes as being "in the English anthem style".
Repertory named: English anthem style
Earlier lineage files: No
A rare documented movement of a teacher between the two colonies.
In West Africa: Christiansborg (Osu) and Akropong, from 1843 (West Indian recruits of the Basel Mission)
Training: Moravian training, Jamaica
Activity: Translated hymns into Ga (Wikipedia); part of the Basel Mission’s Jamaican contingent that set up the Akropong schools.
Repertory named: German chorales in Ga
Earlier lineage files: No
German and Moravian, not Victorian English, hymnody.
In West Africa: Osu (arr. 25 Jan 1853); Akropong seminary; Gold Coast to 1868
Training: Basel Mission seminary
Activity: Compiled Twi hymn books (editions 1878–91); his Twi orthography served the later Twi/Ga hymnals, whose tune book (5th ed., Macmillan 1953) uses German and English tunes (Andoh).
Repertory named: German chorales; English hymn tunes
Earlier lineage files: No
Wikipedia: Johann Gottlieb Christaller · T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace) · Wikipedia: Presbyterian College of Education, Akropong
In West Africa: Cape Coast / Fante Methodist circuits, 1890s
Training: Not stated
Activity: Published a Fante song collection, Tsetse Mfantse Ndwom and Nanaam, from 1893 (Andoh).
Earlier lineage files: No
In West Africa: Cape Coast; Kumasi circuit; Saltpond 1925; Wesley bicentenary, 1938
Training: Cape Coast Wesleyan Collegiate School
Activity: Gold Coast Nation, Oct 1913: led a group of Wesleyan choristers. 1938 Wesley bicentenary brochure: "Methodist tunes and African lyrics that recall … the Methodist Church in England and in the Gold Coast must as far as practicable be used". Graves set his texts.
Repertory named: Methodist (Wesley) hymn tunes
Earlier lineage files: No
Wikipedia: Gaddiel Robert Acquaah · T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace)
In West Africa: Accra: organist, Freeman Memorial Chapel, from age 16; Freetown (Fourah Bay College) c.1918–; Peki (Methodist minister), where he taught Amu; Accra
Training: Chorister, Wharton Memorial Methodist Church, Accra; Fellowship of Victoria College of Music, London (FVCM), by correspondence, before 1910; theology at Fourah Bay College, Freetown (from 1918)
Activity: Taught Ephraim Amu theory, composition and the harmonium at Peki and had him to stay in Accra in the holidays; wrote hymn tunes (e.g. "Denton"), vespers and canticles until he retired in 1968.
Repertory named: English hymn-tune style
Earlier lineage files: No (Victoria College of Music is not in the earlier files)
Andoh treats his pre-1910 FVCM as evidence that correspondence exam bodies were active in the Gold Coast well before 1923.
T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace) · Wikipedia: Ephraim Amu
In West Africa: Cape Coast: music teacher at Mfantsipim; choirmaster, Wesley Church 1911–18; organist, Christ Church (Anglican), then of the Catholic church; founded the West Africa College of Music and Commerce (correspondence and day classes)
Training: Music from his father. Andoh credits him with FRCO, FVCM and FRAM; none is verified (FRAM is honorary and rarely given)
Activity: Trained "many young Ghanaian musicians in the Cape Coast township"; taught O. G. Blankson by correspondence; wrote hymn tunes and anthems "in the style of the English anthem".
Repertory named: English anthem style
Earlier lineage files: Not verified. He is called the "resident representative" of the Royal College of Music in one place and of the Victoria College of Music in another (Andoh)
Andoh’s account contradicts itself and his diplomas are unconfirmed, so this row is Reported, not Documented.
T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace) · Methodist Church Ghana, North America: History of church choir (Wesley Church Choir, Cape Coast)
In West Africa: Cape Coast: Principal of Richmond College; played the Wesley Church pipe organ 1919–24
Training: Not stated
Activity: Played the organ at Wesley Church, Cape Coast, 1919–24 (church history).
Earlier lineage files: No
Single church-history source.
Methodist Church Ghana, North America: History of church choir (Wesley Church Choir, Cape Coast)
In West Africa: Wesley Church, Cape Coast: de Graft Johnson organist 1920–21; Biney 1921–24; Riverson 1924–37
Training: Not stated
Activity: Riverson taught the choir tonic sol-fa; the choir was registered with the Guild of St Cecilia, London, in 1934 (church history). Andoh lists Riverson among the early Ghanaian composers.
Repertory named: Tonic sol-fa
Earlier lineage files: No
Methodist Church Ghana, North America: History of church choir (Wesley Church Choir, Cape Coast) · T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace)
In West Africa: Winneba (before 1920)
Training: Not stated
Activity: Prepared O. G. Blankson for "the external examination syndicates" (Andoh).
Earlier lineage files: No
In West Africa: Winneba (before 1917)
Training: Not stated
Activity: Made Blankson join the Winneba Methodist choir and encouraged his music (Andoh).
Earlier lineage files: No
Nationality not stated.
In West Africa: Winneba: choirmaster and organist, Methodist Church, from 1920; Swedru (UAC book-keeper)
Training: Rev. S. C. Dodd (schoolmaster); lessons with Sam Varney; correspondence lessons with Charles Graves; A.Mus.VCM (Victoria College of Music, London)
Activity: Hymn tunes from 1923, such as "Da Yie", still sung at funerals; Robertsville Hymnal (1949).
Repertory named: English hymn-tune style
Earlier lineage files: No
In West Africa: Gold Coast; "for nearly five decades a renowned Ghanaian music teacher"
Training: Joined the "National Academy of Music" in 1923 after passing a diploma examination (his copy of its regulations, cited by A. A. Mensah via Andoh)
Earlier lineage files: No
The examining body has not been identified.
In West Africa: Peki-Blengo E.P. Boarding Middle School (c.1911–15)
Training: Not stated
Activity: Gave Amu his first organ lessons, in exchange for work on his farm.
Earlier lineage files: No
In West Africa: Abetifi Teachers’ Seminary (Amu was there 1916–19)
Training: Not stated
Activity: Andoh: "introduced him to the works of composers like Bach, Handel and Mozart". Wikipedia names the seminary’s Swiss principal "Stern".
Repertory named: Bach, Handel, Mozart
Earlier lineage files: No
The two names are matched by inference. During the First World War the British expelled the Basel missionaries (1917–18), so his dates in post need checking.
T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace) · Wikipedia: Ephraim Amu
In West Africa: Peki 1920–26; Akropong Presbyterian Seminary 1926–33; Achimota College 1934–36; London (RCM) 1937–40; Achimota 1941–50/51 (head of the music department); Kumasi College of Technology 1951–60; Legon 1961–71
Training: Organ with K. T. Ntem at Peki-Blengo; Abetifi Teachers’ Seminary 1916–19 (harmonium; the principal Stern introduced him to Bach, Handel and Mozart); theory, composition and harmonium with Rev. J. E. Allotey-Pappoe; Royal College of Music, London, 1937–40 (associate diploma in theory, 1940)
Activity: Twenty-five African Songs (Sheldon Press, London; 1932, or 1933 per Andoh); built the Achimota music department and its African-instrument work; mentor to J. H. K. Nketia.
Repertory named: Bach, Handel, Mozart (as student); his own Twi and Ewe part-songs
Earlier lineage files: Institution only: the RCM is in the earlier files. His RCM teachers were not found
Akropong dismissed him in 1933 for wearing African cloth to preach (DACB). He is the clearest case of English training feeding back into African-idiom choral music.
Dictionary of African Christian Biography: Amu, Ephraim Kwaku · Wikipedia: Ephraim Amu · T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace) · Akrofi-Christaller Institute archives: Ephraim Amu Papers (biographical note) · Amu Score Project: About · "A Voice in the African Process of Crossing from the Traditional to Modernity: The Music of Ephraim Amu" (Univ. of Toronto Press journal, PDF)
In West Africa: Not found
Training: Not found
Activity: Andoh names him among the "very important composers of the time".
Earlier lineage files: No
The claim that he succeeded Amu at Akropong could not be sourced; it is not used.
In West Africa: Achimota (Prince of Wales College), Accra: first principal 1924–35; earlier Trinity College, Kandy, Ceylon
Training: Not a musician
Activity: Built Achimota, which Gbeho attended (1925–29) and where Amu and Gbeho taught. DACB says he wrote the school hymn.
Earlier lineage files: No
The names of Achimota’s expatriate music staff, 1927–40, were not found.
DACB: Fraser, Alexander Gordon · Wikipedia: Alec Garden Fraser · Wikipedia: Achimota School
In West Africa: Achimota, assistant vice-principal 1924–27
Training: Livingstone College, North Carolina, and Columbia University (USA). No musical training documented
Activity: His piano-keys image ("you can play a tune of sorts on the black keys only…") became the Achimota crest.
Earlier lineage files: No
Not a musician; included because the institution he co-founded became the main channel.
In West Africa: Keta 1929–38: organist, St Michael’s Catholic Cathedral (founded the St Cecilia’s Choir); Achimota assistant music master from 1938; London 1949–c.1951; Achimota again; Accra
Training: Pupil organist, Keta R.C. Boys’ School; Achimota Teacher Training College 1925–29 (piano and violin "under the tutelage of the school’s expat teachers"); Trinity College of Music, London, 1949–50 (British Council scholarship; licentiate, then a graduate diploma); LRAM (teaching) taken privately
Activity: Ran an informal music school in Keta preparing pupils for the Victoria College of Music, London, exams; BBC Calling West Africa; music of Ghana’s national anthem, 1957; led the founding of the National Symphony Orchestra and Choir, 1963.
Earlier lineage files: Institutions only (Trinity; RAM)
Wikipedia flags the 1938 date "citation needed".
Wikipedia: Philip Gbeho · Encyclopaedia Africana: Philip Gbeho
In West Africa: Akropong; London 1944–52; Legon from 1952
Training: Presbyterian Training College, Akropong; London 1944–52: SOAS, then Birkbeck College and Trinity College of Music (1949–52); Columbia, Juilliard and Northwestern, 1958
Activity: Mentored by Amu (Wikipedia, Amu).
Earlier lineage files: Institution only (Trinity)
Post-war training.
In West Africa: West Africa 1905 and 1911–12, with her husband F. G. Guggisberg, Director of Surveys, Gold Coast and Southern Nigeria (WWM 1913); Guggisberg was Governor of the Gold Coast 1919–27
Training: Boswell House College, Brighton; Victoria Scholarship for singing at the Blackheath Conservatoire of Music (WWM 1913)
Activity: Co-wrote the travel book We Two in West Africa (1909). No musical activity in West Africa found.
Repertory named: Gilbert & Sullivan (her career, not documented in West Africa)
Earlier lineage files: No
The only English professional musician in the 1913 Who’s Who in Music found to have gone to West Africa.
4 persons
In West Africa: Ship’s engineer between Sierra Leone and the Gambia
Training: Not stated
Activity: His son remembered him giving concerts in the Gambia.
Earlier lineage files: No
In West Africa: Kissy and Freetown; the Gambia (government posts); USA 1921–24 and 1926–27; West African fieldwork 1924–26; Berlin (Hornbostel); Freetown to 1962
Training: Chorister, St Patrick’s Kissy; CMS Grammar School, Freetown, from 1905 (clarinet, band); Clark’s Catechism in Music by 1906; organ lessons; self-study of harmony, counterpoint and fugue 1913–17; passed the first Durham BMus exam in 1917 without travelling; Institute of Musical Art, New York, diploma 1924 (after meeting Walter and Frank Damrosch)
Activity: Organist of St Patrick’s from 1911; musical director of the Freetown choral society; Belshazzar’s Feast (Hemans) performed in Freetown, 1919; Guggenheim fellowships 1925 and 1927; later taught at the CMS Grammar School.
Repertory named: Clark’s Catechism (Curwen-era primer)
Earlier lineage files: Institution only: the IMA is in the task-5 institutions sheet (Goetschius taught there). No direct teacher link documented
In West Africa: Freetown; Gold Coast (marriage to J. E. Casely-Hayford); USA 1920–22
Training: Not checked here
Activity: Worked with Ballanta in the Freetown choral society, took Belshazzar’s Feast to America and paid for his passage.
Earlier lineage files: No
Her own education was not checked; the cited page covers only the Ballanta link.
In West Africa: Freetown: first principal, Wesleyan Boys’ High School, 1874
Training: England 1865–70, for his education (not musical) (DACB)
Activity: Encouraged music teaching at the school (DACB).
Earlier lineage files: No
Music is mentioned only in general terms.
1 persons
In West Africa: Never visited Africa. His father went back to West Africa and in 1894 became coroner in the Gambia
Training: Royal College of Music (Stanford)
Activity: Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast was performed by the Lagos cathedral choir (date not given, Diapason 2008).
Repertory named: Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast
Earlier lineage files: Institution only (RCM); Stanford is in the earlier files
A family link to West Africa, but no travel.
Wikipedia: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor · The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF)
How the music travelled when the composers did not: exam boards, conservatoires, mission colleges, publishers, hymnals, organ builders and the gramophone.
| Institution / channel | Place, dates | Role in transmission | Earlier files | Evidence | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity College of Music, London: local and external exams; London study Exam board / conservatoire | London; centres in Lagos (date not found) and the Gold Coast exams from 1877; West African candidates by c.1900 | Main named route. Phillips trained there 1911–14 and coached his choirboys for its graded exams; Loo prepared candidates in Nigeria 1900–40; Okongwu and Nwuba reached Grade VIII by private study; Gbeho, Nketia, Euba, Akpabot and Echezona studied there; Adeogun mentions a "Lagos Center of Trinity College of Music". People: T. K. E. Phillips; I. D. Loo; Oyesiku; Gbeho; Nketia; Euba; Akpabot; Echezona; Fela Sowande (FTCL) | Yes: Trinity is in the task-5 institutions sheet (examiners M. B. Foster and Charles Vincent toured Australia and South Africa, not West Africa) | Documented | Wikipedia: Thomas King Ekundayo Phillips "The Centenary Celebration of Christopher Oyesiku", SSR J. of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (PDF) T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace) A. O. Adeogun, Music education in Nigeria 1842-2001, PhD thesis, Univ. of Pretoria 2006, ch. 5 (PDF) Wikipedia: Philip Gbeho Wikipedia: J. H. Kwabena Nketia Trinity Laban: Our History (exam chronology) |
| Victoria College of Music, London (correspondence diplomas) Exam board (correspondence) | London; Gold Coast candidates before 1910 – 1930s | Fellowships and associateships by post. Allotey-Pappoe took the FVCM before 1910, Blankson the A.Mus.VCM; Gbeho’s Keta school prepared for its exams; Graves is called its "resident representative". People: Allotey-Pappoe; Blankson; Graves; Gbeho; Loo | No (not in the earlier files) | Documented | T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace) Wikipedia: Philip Gbeho |
| Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) Exam board | Achimota; later WAEC (Ghana and Nigeria) by 1949; WAEC from 1952 | Achimota’s teacher-training music exam under Amu followed ABRSM syllabuses; WAEC still runs ABRSM exams; Nigerians took ABRSM grades by private study. People: Amu; Nwuba | Indirect (RAM/RCM, through Parratt, Stainer and others; JW 2020 documents ABRSM examiners in South Africa from 1894) | Documented | "Lost in the Mix: A (Hi)story of Music in Ghanaian Basic Education", J. of African Arts and Culture 3/1 (2019) West African Examinations Council (Ghana): History A. O. Adeogun, Music education in Nigeria 1842-2001, PhD thesis, Univ. of Pretoria 2006, ch. 5 (PDF) E. Johnson-Williams, "The Examiner and the Evangelist: Authorities of Music and Empire, c.1894", JRMA 145 (2020) Wikipedia: ABRSM |
| College of Preceptors; Cambridge Local Examinations School exam boards (music among the subjects) | Lagos 1880s (Preceptors); Cambridge from 1903; only Cambridge from 1938 | School-level music examined to English standards; King’s College, Lagos (founded 1909), was for years the only school consistently teaching music to Cambridge Senior Local standard. People: Fela Sowande (King’s College) | No | Documented | A. O. Adeogun, Music education in Nigeria 1842-2001, PhD thesis, Univ. of Pretoria 2006, ch. 5 (PDF) |
| Durham University external BMus Degree by exam | Durham (papers taken abroad) 1917 | Ballanta passed the first BMus exam from Freetown without travelling; C. O. O. Phillips later graduated at Durham in 1946. People: Ballanta; C. O. O. Phillips | No | Documented | Wikipedia: Nicholas G. J. Ballanta The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) |
| Royal College of Music, London Conservatoire | London 1937–40 (Amu); 1950s (Akpabot) | Amu’s research and associate diploma in theory. People: Amu; Akpabot | Yes (RCM is in the earlier files: Parratt, Stanford, Bridge) | Documented | Dictionary of African Christian Biography: Amu, Ephraim Kwaku The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) |
| Royal Academy of Music, London Conservatoire / affiliation | London; Lagos (affiliated school) 1940–53; 1950s | The Pratt School of Music, Lagos, was affiliated to the RAM; Gbeho took the LRAM. People: Pratt; Omideyi; Gbeho | Yes (RAM: Maunder studied there) | Documented | B. Omojola, "Music Education in Nigeria: Historical Trends" (text copy on silo.tips) Wikipedia: Philip Gbeho |
| Royal College of Organists Diploma body | London 1943 | Fela Sowande FRCO 1943 (Limpus, Harding and Read prizes). Graves’s claimed FRCO is unverified. People: Fela Sowande; Graves (claimed) | Yes (RCO diplomas recur in the earlier files) | Documented | Wikipedia: Fela Sowande |
| Guildhall School of Music, London Conservatoire | London 1957– | Ayo Bankole studied there. People: Bankole | Yes (Guildhall is in the earlier institutions sheet) | Documented | Wikipedia: Ayo Bankole |
| Institute of Musical Art, New York Conservatoire | New York 1921–24 | Ballanta’s diploma. People: Ballanta | Yes (the IMA is in the earlier institutions sheet: Goetschius, Dethier) | Documented | Wikipedia: Nicholas G. J. Ballanta |
| Guild of St Cecilia, London Choir registration | Cape Coast 1934 | The Wesley Church choir, Cape Coast, registered with the Guild. People: I. D. Riverson | No | Reported | Methodist Church Ghana, North America: History of church choir (Wesley Church Choir, Cape Coast) |
| CMS Training Institution, Abeokuta Mission college | Abeokuta 1850s–60s | Singing and harmonium taught from c.1861; Coker and Ransome-Kuti trained there. People: Bühler; Coker; Ransome-Kuti | No | Documented | DACB: Buhler, Gottlieb Friederick (K. Olabimtan; cites CMS archives) DACB: Ransome-Kuti, Josiah Jesse |
| CMS Female Institute / CMS Girls’ School, Lagos Mission school | Lagos 1872–1890s | Music taught by Coker (to 1894) and Ransome-Kuti (1879–c.1886). People: Coker; Ransome-Kuti | No | Documented | Jibolu-Taiwo family history: Rev. Robert Arungbamolu Coker (PDF; family-compiled) DACB: Ransome-Kuti, Josiah Jesse |
| Christ Church, later the Cathedral Church of Christ, Lagos (present building begun 1924, completed 1946) Cathedral choir | Lagos choir from 1853 (Beulah) / 1895 (Coker); festival from 1918 | The leading English-pattern choir: men and boys from 1900; Harrison organ 1901; three-manual Abbott & Smith organ 1932 (Sadoh); cathedral status 1923 (Sadoh); Stainer’s The Crucifixion 1916; annual choir festival from 1918. People: Hamlyn; Coker; T. K. E. Phillips; C. O. O. Phillips; Fela Sowande; Oyesiku; Akpabot | Repertory link only (Stainer) | Documented | The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) The Nation (Lagos), 19 May 2017: "Everlasting spiritual influence of Cathedral Church of Christ" (150th-anniversary history) Cathedral Church of Christ, Lagos: Cathedral Choir, a brief history Dictionary of Organs and Organists, 2nd ed. (1921), overseas organ list, "West Africa" (archive.org) Wikipedia: Cathedral Church of Christ, Lagos G. Sadoh, "Thomas Ekundayo Phillips: Pioneer in Nigerian Church Hymn Composition", The Diapason, Mar. 2008 (PDF) |
| Pratt School of Music, Lagos Private music school | Lagos 1940–53 | Affiliated to the RAM; Omideyi took its diploma in 1945. People: Pratt; Omideyi | RAM affiliation | Reported | B. Omojola, "Music Education in Nigeria: Historical Trends" (text copy on silo.tips) A. O. Adeogun, Music education in Nigeria 1842-2001, PhD thesis, Univ. of Pretoria 2006, ch. 5 (PDF) |
| Uzuakoli Leprosy Settlement (Methodist) Mission hospital | Eastern Nigeria 1932–59 | Davey taught Harcourt Whyte from the Methodist hymn book; Whyte’s patient choir toured. People: Davey; Whyte | No | Documented | Lepra centenary: Ikoli Harcourt Whyte Wikipedia: Harcourt Whyte |
| Basel Mission seminaries: Akropong and Abetifi Mission colleges | Gold Coast 1848–; Abetifi 1916–19 (Amu) | German and Swiss tradition: chorales, harmonium, Bach and Handel; Twi and Ga hymnals. People: Christaller; Clerk; Stern; Amu; Nketia | No | Documented | Wikipedia: Presbyterian College of Education, Akropong Wikipedia: Johann Gottlieb Christaller T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace) Wikipedia: Ephraim Amu |
| Achimota (Prince of Wales College), Accra Government college | Accra 1924/27– | Expatriate music staff (unnamed) taught Gbeho 1925–29; Amu taught there 1934–36 and 1941–51 and headed its music department; the training-college exam used ABRSM syllabuses; later fed the National Symphony Orchestra. People: Fraser; Aggrey; Amu; Gbeho | No | Documented | Wikipedia: Achimota School DACB: Fraser, Alexander Gordon Wikipedia: Philip Gbeho "Lost in the Mix: A (Hi)story of Music in Ghanaian Basic Education", J. of African Arts and Culture 3/1 (2019) |
| Wesleyan / Methodist Cape Coast: Wesley Church, Mfantsipim, Richmond College Church and schools | Cape Coast 1911–37 | Graves (choirmaster 1911–18), Dyer, Riverson (tonic sol-fa); Graves taught at Mfantsipim. People: Graves; Dyer; Riverson; Acquaah | No | Reported | Methodist Church Ghana, North America: History of church choir (Wesley Church Choir, Cape Coast) T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace) |
| West Africa College of Music and Commerce (Graves) Correspondence college | Cape Coast date not found | Correspondence and day classes; Blankson studied with Graves by post. People: Graves; Blankson | No | Reported | T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace) |
| CMS Grammar School, Freetown Mission school | Freetown 1905–1960 | Ballanta played in its band and won its music prize; he later taught there. People: Ballanta | No | Documented | Wikipedia: Nicholas G. J. Ballanta |
| Fourah Bay College, Freetown Mission college | Freetown c.1918 | Allotey-Pappoe’s theological training; a Freetown link for Gold Coast Methodists. People: Allotey-Pappoe | No | Documented | T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace) |
| Tonic sol-fa (Curwen) Notation / publisher | Old Calabar, Lagos, Cape Coast reports from 1857 | The Curwen movement printed a report from Old Calabar from 1857; sol-fa became the Yoruba and Akan choir notation (Riverson taught it at Cape Coast). Simper published some works in sol-fa. People: Riverson; Ransome-Kuti (sol-fa and tone) | Weak (Simper’s sol-fa editions; the Tonic Sol-fa College is in the earlier sheet, with nothing found) | Documented | A. Carter-Ényì, "Hooked on Sol-Fa: the do-re-mi heuristic for Yorùbá speech tones", Africa (2018) Wikipedia: Tonic sol-fa Methodist Church Ghana, North America: History of church choir (Wesley Church Choir, Cape Coast) Wikipedia: Caleb Simper |
| Novello & Co. Publisher | London 1926 | Published Phillips’s Yoruba versicles and responses (Awon Adura Kukuru). Novello also published Maunder, Stainer and Simper octavos, but no colonial sales records were found. People: T. K. E. Phillips | Indirect (Novello was the main publisher of the earlier working composers) | Documented | G. Sadoh, "Thomas Ekundayo Phillips: Pioneer in Nigerian Church Hymn Composition", The Diapason, Mar. 2008 (PDF) Wikipedia: Thomas King Ekundayo Phillips |
| Sheldon Press (SPCK), London Publisher | London 1932/33 | Amu’s Twenty-five African Songs. People: Amu | No | Documented | Dictionary of African Christian Biography: Amu, Ephraim Kwaku T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace) |
| Hymnals: Hymns Ancient & Modern; Methodist Hymn-Book with Tunes (1933); Iwe Orin Mimo (CMS Yoruba, 1923); Tunes to the Twi and Ga Hymn Book (Macmillan, 5th ed. 1953) Hymnals | All colonies 1870s–1950s | The routine carrier of Victorian hymn tunes, (the editions’ tune contents were not collated here). Ransome-Kuti’s 1923 appendix added "native airs". People: Ransome-Kuti; Acquaah; Davey; Christaller | Repertory link (the earlier-file composers wrote hymn tunes for these books) | Documented | T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace) A. Carter-Ényì, "Hooked on Sol-Fa: the do-re-mi heuristic for Yorùbá speech tones", Africa (2018) The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) Lepra centenary: Ikoli Harcourt Whyte |
| English organ builders’ exports (DOO 1921 list) Instruments | Lagos, Cape Coast, Accra, Freetown 1895–1915 | Hill (Freetown Cathedral, 1895); Harrison (Christ Church Lagos 1901; St Paul’s Breadfruit 1907; Christ Church Cape Coast 1910); Cartwright (Wesley Olowogbowo 1909); Norman & Beard (Freetown Wesleyan 1909); Rutt (Lagos First Baptist 1912; Lagos Wesleyan 1913); Rushworth & Dreaper (Accra Wesleyan 1914); Bevington ("Nigeria Trinity Church" 1915). Abbott & Smith built the Lagos organ of 1932 (Sadoh). People: — | No | Documented | Dictionary of Organs and Organists, 2nd ed. (1921), overseas organ list, "West Africa" (archive.org) G. Sadoh, "Thomas Ekundayo Phillips: Pioneer in Nigerian Church Hymn Composition", The Diapason, Mar. 2008 (PDF) |
| Gramophone recording (Zonophone / HMV) Recording | London 1925; 1927 | Ransome-Kuti’s Yoruba hymns (Zonophone, 1925); Phillips’s Yoruba songs (HMV, 1927). People: Ransome-Kuti; T. K. E. Phillips | No | Documented | Wikipedia: Josiah Ransome-Kuti The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) |
| BBC (Calling West Africa; Africa Service) Broadcasting | London → West Africa 1940s–50s | Fela Sowande and Gbeho broadcast to West Africa. People: Fela Sowande; Gbeho | No | Documented | Wikipedia: Fela Sowande Wikipedia: Philip Gbeho |
Colonial-era performances are listed apart from present-day statements of popularity. The marked works are by composers in the earlier lineage files.
| Work | Composer | In earlier files? | Place, date | Kind of evidence | Evidence | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "But thou didst not leave my soul in hell" (Messiah), sung in Yoruba Bender 1985, quoted by Adeogun. | Handel | No | Abeokuta Choral Society; 1898 Rev. Olubi (director) | Colonial-era performance | Reported | A. O. Adeogun, Music education in Nigeria 1842-2001, PhD thesis, Univ. of Pretoria 2006, ch. 5 (PDF) |
| Handel festival and annual Western-style concerts Programmes not itemised. | Handel and others | No | Lagos; from 1882 R. A. Coker; Dr N. King | Colonial-era performance | Documented | B. Omojola, "Music Education in Nigeria: Historical Trends" (text copy on silo.tips) A. O. Adeogun, Music education in Nigeria 1842-2001, PhD thesis, Univ. of Pretoria 2006, ch. 5 (PDF) Jibolu-Taiwo family history: Rev. Robert Arungbamolu Coker (PDF; family-compiled) |
| The Crucifixion "The first Good Friday cantata concert in Nigeria", according to the cathedral historians. | John Stainer | YES: Stainer is in the earlier lineage files | Christ Church, Lagos; Good Friday 1916 T. K. E. Phillips and the choir | Colonial-era performance | Documented | The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) |
| The Daughter of Jairus | John Stainer | YES | Lagos and on organ-fund tours (Nigeria; London); late 1920s – early 1930s T. K. E. Phillips and the cathedral choir | Colonial-era performance | Documented | G. Sadoh, "Thomas Ekundayo Phillips: Pioneer in Nigerian Church Hymn Composition", The Diapason, Mar. 2008 (PDF) The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) |
| Elijah | Mendelssohn | No | Organ-fund tours; Lagos (also 1989); late 1920s – early 1930s T. K. E. Phillips | Colonial-era performance | Documented | G. Sadoh, "Thomas Ekundayo Phillips: Pioneer in Nigerian Church Hymn Composition", The Diapason, Mar. 2008 (PDF) The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) |
| Christmas Oratorio | J. S. Bach | No | Cathedral Church of Christ, Lagos; 1953 Cathedral choir (Phillips era) | Colonial-era performance | Documented | The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) |
| Messiah (complete, every three years) | Handel | No | Lagos cathedral; 1962–92 (C. O. O. Phillips); also 1981, 2002 Cathedral choir | Post-colonial | Documented | The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) |
| Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast | Samuel Coleridge-Taylor | Institution link (RCM; Stanford pupil) | Lagos cathedral; undated Cathedral choir | Undated | Documented | The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) |
| The Temple Composed 1902. | H. Walford Davies | YES: Walford Davies is in the earlier lineage files | Lagos cathedral; undated Cathedral choir | Undated | Documented | The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) |
| Pomp and Circumstance | Elgar | No | Lagos cathedral (choir orchestra); 22 Nov 1998 Cathedral choir orchestra | Post-colonial | Documented | The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) |
| Service music by Ireland, Byrd, Stainer, Rose, Willcocks, Rutter, Vaughan Williams, S. Wesley, Attwood, Stanley Shows survival of the English cathedral repertory, not colonial-era practice. | Various British | Stainer: YES | Lagos cathedral; 2008 (present-day statement) Cathedral choir | Present-day claim | Documented | The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) |
| Hymns Ancient & Modern, A&M Revised, Songs of Praise, Methodist Hymn Book, Hymnal Companion, St Paul’s Cathedral Psalter … | Hymnals | Indirect | Lagos cathedral; 2008 (present-day statement) Congregation | Present-day claim | Documented | The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) |
| Bach, Handel, Mozart (introduced to Amu) | Various | No | Abetifi Seminary; 1916–19 Rev. Stern | Colonial-era teaching | Probable | T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace) Wikipedia: Ephraim Amu |
| Bach, Rheinberger (introduced to Fela Sowande) | Various | No | Lagos; 1910s–20s T. K. E. Phillips | Colonial-era teaching | Documented | Wikipedia: Fela Sowande |
| Belshazzar’s Feast (Ballanta, text Hemans) | N. G. J. Ballanta | No | Freetown; 1919 Freetown choral society | Colonial-era performance (local composer) | Documented | Wikipedia: Nicholas G. J. Ballanta |
| Gilbert & Sullivan (Trial by Jury, HMS Pinafore, The Mikado) | Sullivan | No (Sullivan is outside the earlier files) | Lagos Musical Society; late 1940s Christopher Oyesiku (bass) | Colonial-era performance | Documented | "The Centenary Celebration of Christopher Oyesiku", SSR J. of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (PDF) |
| Methodist Hymn-Book with Tunes (London, 1933); Tunes to the Twi and Ga Hymn Book (5th ed., 1953) | Hymnals | Indirect | Gold Coast; 1933; 1953 Methodist and Presbyterian congregations | Colonial-era hymnals | Documented | T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace) |
| "Methodist tunes and African lyrics" (Wesley bicentenary) | Methodist hymn tunes | Indirect | Gold Coast; May 1938 G. R. Acquaah | Colonial-era performance | Documented | Wikipedia: Gaddiel Robert Acquaah |
| Olivet to Calvary; works by Caleb Simper or J. H. Maunder Their present popularity there may be real, but no colonial-era programme naming them was found in the sources checked. | Maunder; Simper | YES | Searched for Nigeria, Gold Coast, Sierra Leone; — — | NO PERFORMANCE FOUND | Not found | IMSLP: Olivet to Calvary (Maunder), Novello 1904 Wikipedia: Caleb Simper Wikipedia: John Henry Maunder |
| Person | Direction | From | To | Years | Purpose / activity | Evidence | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gottlieb F. Bühler | To West Africa | Basel / London (CMS Islington) | Lagos, Abeokuta, Ibadan | 1855–65 | CMS mission; Training Institution head (singing, harmonium) | Documented | DACB: Buhler, Gottlieb Friederick (K. Olabimtan; cites CMS archives) |
| A. W. Clerk | To West Africa | Jamaica | Christiansborg, Akropong | 1843–1906 | Basel Mission West Indian recruit; Ga hymns | Documented | Wikipedia: Alexander Worthy Clerk |
| J. G. Christaller | To West Africa | Basel | Osu, Akropong | 1853–68 | Basel Mission; Twi hymn books | Documented | Wikipedia: Johann Gottlieb Christaller |
| Robert A. Coker | West Africa → Europe → Lagos | Lagos | England (or Germany) | 1871, 1874 or 1880 (sources differ) | Music study (a nine-month course, per the family history) | Reported | Jibolu-Taiwo family history: Rev. Robert Arungbamolu Coker (PDF; family-compiled) B. Omojola, "Music Education in Nigeria: Historical Trends" (text copy on silo.tips) A. O. Adeogun, Music education in Nigeria 1842-2001, PhD thesis, Univ. of Pretoria 2006, ch. 5 (PDF) G. Sadoh, "Thomas Ekundayo Phillips: Pioneer in Nigerian Church Hymn Composition", The Diapason, Mar. 2008 (PDF) |
| Robert A. Coker | Within West Africa | Freetown (birth) | Abeokuta and Lagos | by 1861 | Saro migration; CMS training | Documented | Jibolu-Taiwo family history: Rev. Robert Arungbamolu Coker (PDF; family-compiled) The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) |
| Rev. N. T. Hamlyn | To West Africa | Britain | Lagos | by 1885 – c.1900+ | CMS vicar; choir reorganisation | Documented | The Nation (Lagos), 19 May 2017: "Everlasting spiritual influence of Cathedral Church of Christ" (150th-anniversary history) The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) |
| Frank Lacton | Within West Africa | Sierra Leone | Lagos | to 1914 | Organist, Christ Church | Reported | The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) |
| I. D. Loo | Within West Africa | Cape Coast | Nigeria (then back to the Gold Coast 1940) | 1900–40 | UAC and civil service; exam coaching | Documented | T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace) |
| Decima Moore | To West Africa | London | Gold Coast / Southern Nigeria | 1905; 1911–12 | Accompanied her husband; travel book | Documented | Who's Who in Music (1913), s.v. Moore, Decima (archive.org) |
| T. K. E. Phillips | West Africa → London → Lagos | Lagos | Trinity College of Music, London | 1911–14 | Organ, piano, violin; FTCL | Documented | Wikipedia: Thomas King Ekundayo Phillips G. Sadoh, "Thomas Ekundayo Phillips: Pioneer in Nigerian Church Hymn Composition", The Diapason, Mar. 2008 (PDF) |
| T. K. E. Phillips | Lagos → England | Lagos | England | 1927 | Appeal for organ funds; his Yoruba songs sung by St George’s choir (23 Oct 1927), recorded by HMV; Sadoh: tour programmes included Elijah and The Daughter of Jairus | Documented | The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) G. Sadoh, "Thomas Ekundayo Phillips: Pioneer in Nigerian Church Hymn Composition", The Diapason, Mar. 2008 (PDF) |
| T. K. E. Phillips | Within Nigeria (choir tour) | Lagos | Abeokuta (24 Aug 1930), Ibadan | 1930 | Choir concerts for the 1932 organ | Documented | The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) |
| Herbert Tugwell | To West Africa | England | Lagos (CMS missionary; bishop from 1894) | by 1894 – 1921 | Invited Phillips, 1914 | Documented | Wikipedia: Herbert Tugwell Wikipedia: Thomas King Ekundayo Phillips |
| J. E. Allotey-Pappoe | Within West Africa | Accra | Fourah Bay College, Freetown; then Peki | c.1918 – 1920s | Theology; posted to Peki, where he taught Amu | Documented | T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace) |
| N. G. J. Ballanta | West Africa → USA | Freetown | Boston, Philadelphia, New York | 1921–24; 1926–27 | Pageants; Institute of Musical Art diploma; Guggenheim | Documented | Wikipedia: Nicholas G. J. Ballanta |
| N. G. J. Ballanta | Within West Africa | Freetown | Gambia, Sierra Leone, Gold Coast, Nigeria | 1924–26 | Fieldwork on African music | Documented | Wikipedia: Nicholas G. J. Ballanta |
| Adelaide Casely-Hayford | West Africa → USA | Freetown | USA | 1920–22 | Took Belshazzar’s Feast to promote Ballanta | Documented | Wikipedia: Nicholas G. J. Ballanta |
| A. G. Fraser | To West Africa | Britain (via Ceylon) | Achimota | 1924–35 | Founding principal | Documented | DACB: Fraser, Alexander Gordon Wikipedia: Alec Garden Fraser |
| Rev. R. P. Dyer | To West Africa | Britain | Cape Coast (Richmond College) | 1919–24 | Principal; Wesley Church organist | Reported | Methodist Church Ghana, North America: History of church choir (Wesley Church Choir, Cape Coast) |
| Fela Sowande | West Africa → London | Lagos | London | 1934–52 | Organ study, FRCO 1943; BBC; West London Mission | Documented | Wikipedia: Fela Sowande |
| Dr T. Frank Davey | To West Africa | Britain | Uzuakoli, Eastern Nigeria | 1936–59 | Leprosy settlement director; taught Harcourt Whyte | Documented | Lepra centenary: Ikoli Harcourt Whyte |
| Ephraim Amu | West Africa → London | Achimota | Royal College of Music, London | 1937–40 | Research and theory diploma | Documented | Dictionary of African Christian Biography: Amu, Ephraim Kwaku |
| C. O. O. Phillips | West Africa → England | Lagos | Durham University | 1940s – 1946 | Degree study under J. A. Westrup | Documented | The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) |
| J. H. K. Nketia | West Africa → London | Akropong | SOAS, Birkbeck, Trinity College of Music | 1944–52 | Linguistics and music | Documented | Wikipedia: J. H. Kwabena Nketia |
| Philip Gbeho | West Africa → London | Achimota | Trinity College of Music, London | 1949–c.1951 | LTCL and graduate diploma; LRAM; BBC | Documented | Wikipedia: Philip Gbeho |
| Akin Euba | West Africa → London | Lagos | Trinity College of Music, London | 1952– | Scholarship on Allen’s recommendation | Documented | A. O. Adeogun, Music education in Nigeria 1842-2001, PhD thesis, Univ. of Pretoria 2006, ch. 5 (PDF) |
| Samuel Akpabot | West Africa → London | Lagos | RCM and Trinity College of Music, London | 1954– | Study | Documented | The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) A. O. Adeogun, Music education in Nigeria 1842-2001, PhD thesis, Univ. of Pretoria 2006, ch. 5 (PDF) |
| Ayo Bankole | West Africa → London / Cambridge | Lagos | Guildhall; Clare College, Cambridge | 1957– | Study | Documented | Wikipedia: Ayo Bankole |
| Teacher / source | Pupil | Relation | Place, years | Evidence | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gottlieb F. Bühler | Robert A. Coker | music teacher Family history; Bühler’s own reports confirm the singing and harmonium teaching. | CMS Training Institution, Abeokuta, 1861–64 | Probable | Jibolu-Taiwo family history: Rev. Robert Arungbamolu Coker (PDF; family-compiled) DACB: Buhler, Gottlieb Friederick (K. Olabimtan; cites CMS archives) |
| Robert A. Coker | Christ Church choir, Lagos | founding organist and choirmaster | Lagos, 1895 | Documented | The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) Cathedral Church of Christ, Lagos: Cathedral Choir, a brief history |
| Rev. N. T. Hamlyn | Christ Church choir, Lagos | reorganiser (men and boys, surplices) | Lagos, 1885–1900 | Documented | The Nation (Lagos), 19 May 2017: "Everlasting spiritual influence of Cathedral Church of Christ" (150th-anniversary history) The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) |
| Rev. Johnson Phillips | T. K. E. Phillips | first organ lessons Uncle. | Lagos, c.1895–1905 | Documented | Wikipedia: Thomas King Ekundayo Phillips G. Sadoh, "Thomas Ekundayo Phillips: Pioneer in Nigerian Church Hymn Composition", The Diapason, Mar. 2008 (PDF) |
| Solomon Moses Daniels | T. K. E. Phillips | organ lessons | Lagos, before 1911 | Reported | Wikipedia: Thomas King Ekundayo Phillips |
| Trinity College of Music, London (teachers not named) | T. K. E. Phillips | organ, piano, violin; FTCL Teacher names not found. | London, 1911–14 | Documented | Wikipedia: Thomas King Ekundayo Phillips G. Sadoh, "Thomas Ekundayo Phillips: Pioneer in Nigerian Church Hymn Composition", The Diapason, Mar. 2008 (PDF) |
| T. K. E. Phillips | Fela Sowande | choirboy training | Lagos, 1910s–1920s | Documented | Wikipedia: Thomas King Ekundayo Phillips Wikipedia: Fela Sowande |
| T. K. E. Phillips | C. O. O. Phillips | organ (father to son) | Lagos, 1930s | Documented | The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) Wikipedia: Thomas King Ekundayo Phillips |
| T. K. E. Phillips | Christopher Oyesiku | theory, musicianship, voice; Trinity graded exam coaching | Lagos, c.1933– | Documented | "The Centenary Celebration of Christopher Oyesiku", SSR J. of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (PDF) |
| T. K. E. Phillips | Samuel Akpabot | chorister training | Lagos, early 1940s | Documented | The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) |
| T. K. E. Phillips | Ayo Bankole | pupil | Lagos, 1950s | Documented | Wikipedia: Thomas King Ekundayo Phillips A. O. Adeogun, Music education in Nigeria 1842-2001, PhD thesis, Univ. of Pretoria 2006, ch. 5 (PDF) |
| T. K. E. Phillips | Lazarus Ekwueme | pupil | Lagos, — | Reported | Wikipedia: Thomas King Ekundayo Phillips |
| George Oldroyd; G. D. Cunningham; Edmund Rubbra | Fela Sowande | organ and composition (private) None of the three is in the earlier files. | London, 1934–43 | Documented | Wikipedia: Fela Sowande |
| J. A. Westrup | C. O. O. Phillips | organ and degree study | Durham, to 1946 | Documented | The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) |
| Fela Sowande | Ayo Bankole | advanced organ Omojola, cited by Adeogun. | Lagos, 1950s | Documented | A. O. Adeogun, Music education in Nigeria 1842-2001, PhD thesis, Univ. of Pretoria 2006, ch. 5 (PDF) |
| Major J. G. C. Allen | Akin Euba | piano; scholarship recommendation | Lagos, to 1952 | Documented | A. O. Adeogun, Music education in Nigeria 1842-2001, PhD thesis, Univ. of Pretoria 2006, ch. 5 (PDF) |
| Pratt School of Music | Olaolu Omideyi | diploma | Lagos, 1945 | Documented | B. Omojola, "Music Education in Nigeria: Historical Trends" (text copy on silo.tips) |
| Dr T. Frank Davey | Ikoli Harcourt Whyte | music from the Methodist hymn book | Uzuakoli, 1930s–40s | Documented | Lepra centenary: Ikoli Harcourt Whyte Wikipedia: Harcourt Whyte |
| Abeokuta Training Institution | J. J. Ransome-Kuti | pupil (excelled in music) Bühler’s institution, after his time. | Abeokuta, from c.1864 | Documented | DACB: Ransome-Kuti, Josiah Jesse |
| I. D. Loo | Unnamed Ghanaian and Nigerian candidates | Trinity and Victoria College exam coaching | Nigeria, 1900–40 | Documented | T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace) |
| Victoria College of Music, London (correspondence) | J. E. Allotey-Pappoe | FVCM | Accra (by correspondence), before 1910 | Documented | T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace) |
| K. T. Ntem | Ephraim Amu | organ | Peki-Blengo, c.1911–15 | Documented | Wikipedia: Ephraim Amu |
| Rev. Stern (Abetifi principal) | Ephraim Amu | introduction to Bach, Handel and Mozart Names matched by inference. | Abetifi, 1916–19 | Probable | T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace) Wikipedia: Ephraim Amu |
| J. E. Allotey-Pappoe | Ephraim Amu | theory, composition, harmonium | Peki and Accra, c.1920–26 | Documented | T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace) Wikipedia: Ephraim Amu |
| Royal College of Music (teachers not named) | Ephraim Amu | research and associate diploma in theory | London, 1937–40 | Documented | Dictionary of African Christian Biography: Amu, Ephraim Kwaku |
| Ephraim Amu | J. H. K. Nketia | mentor | Akropong / Achimota, 1930s–40s | Documented | Wikipedia: Ephraim Amu |
| Achimota expatriate music teachers (not named) | Philip Gbeho | piano and violin Names not found. | Achimota, 1925–29 | Documented | Wikipedia: Philip Gbeho |
| Trinity College of Music, London | Philip Gbeho | LTCL; graduate diploma | London, 1949–51 | Documented | Wikipedia: Philip Gbeho |
| Trinity College of Music, London | J. H. K. Nketia | study | London, 1949–52 | Documented | Wikipedia: J. H. Kwabena Nketia |
| Rev. S. C. Dodd | O. G. Blankson | schoolmaster; choir | Winneba, before 1917 | Reported | T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace) |
| Sam Varney | O. G. Blankson | preparation for external exams | Winneba, c.1917–20 | Reported | T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace) |
| Charles E. Graves | O. G. Blankson | correspondence lessons; A.Mus.VCM | Cape Coast to Winneba, c.1920s | Documented | T. E. Andoh, "The Choral Music Scene in the Gold Coast (Ghana) prior to 1933", Ghana J. of Religion and Theology NS 3 (2008) (PDF, UGSpace) |
| I. D. Riverson | Wesley Church choir, Cape Coast | tonic sol-fa | Cape Coast, 1924–37 | Reported | Methodist Church Ghana, North America: History of church choir (Wesley Church Choir, Cape Coast) |
| Gustavus Taylor | N. G. J. Ballanta | father; violin and organ example | Kissy / the Gambia, to c.1903 | Documented | Wikipedia: Nicholas G. J. Ballanta |
| CMS Grammar School, Freetown | N. G. J. Ballanta | band, Clark’s Catechism, organ | Freetown, 1905–06 | Documented | Wikipedia: Nicholas G. J. Ballanta |
| Institute of Musical Art, New York | N. G. J. Ballanta | diploma The IMA is in the earlier institutions sheet; no named IMA teacher. | New York, 1921–24 | Documented | Wikipedia: Nicholas G. J. Ballanta |
| Subject | Question | Searched | Result | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caleb Simper | Did he travel to West Africa, or have pupils or posts there? | Wikipedia; British Musical Biography 1897; Baker 1919; Who’s Who in Music 1913; International Who’s Who in Music 1918; the earlier task-4/5 files; web searches on Simper with Nigeria, Ghana, Gold Coast, Lagos, Sierra Leone | No travel or West African pupil found. He spent his career in Worcester and Barnstaple; his reach was through Weekes & Co. and Novello octavos and sol-fa editions. No West African programme naming him was found. | Wikipedia: Caleb Simper Brown & Stratton, British Musical Biography (1897) (archive.org) Who's Who in Music (1913) (archive.org) |
| John Henry Maunder | Did he travel to West Africa, or have pupils or posts there? | Same sources, plus IMSLP and Novello catalogues for Olivet to Calvary | No travel found. He spent his career in London (Forest Hill, Sydenham) and studied at the RAM. No West African performance of Olivet to Calvary was found before 1960. | Wikipedia: John Henry Maunder IMSLP: Olivet to Calvary (Maunder), Novello 1904 Who's Who in Music (1913) (archive.org) |
| The other 91 working composers (task 4) | Any West African travel? | Their built biographies (wc/built.json), cross-checked against the dictionaries | Overseas travel is recorded only for M. B. Foster (Trinity examiner: Australia, South Africa), Jude (Australia and New Zealand 1890–94), Oliver King (Canada 1880–83) and Wolstenholme (USA 1908). None to West Africa. | Earlier file: working-composers-teacher-lineage (task 5) and the 93 working composers (task 4) |
| Cathedral-organist lineage figures (Stainer, Parratt, Bridge, Walford Davies, Prout, Turpin, etc.) | Did any examine or teach in West Africa? | Dictionaries above; Johnson-Williams JRMA 2020 on imperial exam tours | Imperial examining tours are documented for South Africa, Australia and Canada (ABRSM: Franklin Taylor 1894; Parratt; Howells 1921), not West Africa. Their influence arrived through repertory (Stainer’s The Crucifixion, Lagos 1916; Walford Davies’s The Temple, undated) and exam syllabuses. | E. Johnson-Williams, "The Examiner and the Evangelist: Authorities of Music and Empire, c.1894", JRMA 145 (2020) Who's Who in Music (1913) (archive.org) International Who's Who in Music (1918) (archive.org) Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians (1919) (archive.org) |
| Teachers of the West Africans who trained in London | Are they in the earlier files? | Wikipedia and the Diapason articles | Fela Sowande’s teachers (Oldroyd, Cunningham, Rubbra) and C. O. O. Phillips’s (Westrup) are not in the earlier files. The Trinity teachers of T. K. E. Phillips (1911–14) and the RCM teachers of Amu (1937–40) were not found. | Wikipedia: Fela Sowande The Diapason, Sept. 2008: "Celebrating the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir, Lagos, Nigeria, at Ninety" (PDF) Dictionary of African Christian Biography: Amu, Ephraim Kwaku |
| Trinity College / ABRSM examiners in West Africa | Did an examiner from London tour West Africa before 1940? | Trinity history; JW 2020; Gerda Henkel "Examining the Empire" project page | No dated West African examining tour found. Exams appear to have been run locally, by correspondence, or through visiting arrangements not documented in the sources checked. | Trinity Laban: Our History (exam chronology) E. Johnson-Williams, "The Examiner and the Evangelist: Authorities of Music and Empire, c.1894", JRMA 145 (2020) Gerda Henkel Foundation: "Examining the Empire" (V. Wesselmann project) |
| Samuel Coleridge-Taylor | Did he visit West Africa? | Wikipedia | No. His father was a Sierra Leonean Creole who went back to West Africa. | Wikipedia: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor |
| Decima Moore | Musical activity in West Africa? | Who’s Who in Music 1913 | Travel documented (1905; 1911–12); no performance found. | Who's Who in Music (1913), s.v. Moore, Decima (archive.org) |
| W. E. F. Ward (Achimota) | Music teaching at Achimota? | Wikipedia; an MSU PDF (could not be downloaded) | Unconfirmed; moved to Gaps rather than People. | |
| Freetown and Accra cathedral organists, 1880–1940 | Who were they? | Wikipedia (St George’s Freetown; Holy Trinity Accra); organ-biography; Music In Africa | Not found. Only the instruments are documented: Hill, St George’s Cathedral Freetown, 1895 (DOO; organ-biography). Music In Africa dates organised classical music in Sierra Leone mainly to the Ballanta Academy (1995). | Dictionary of Organs and Organists, 2nd ed. (1921), overseas organ list, "West Africa" (archive.org) Biographical Dictionary of the Organ: St George’s Cathedral, Freetown (Hill, 1895) Music In Africa: "Classical music in Sierra Leone" (2018) |