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Echezonachukwu Nduka

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Nigerian poet and pianist

Echezonachukwu Nduka
Kingston University London, May 2015Kingston University London, May 2015
Born (1989-07-19) 19 July 1989 (age 35)
Onitsha, Nigeria
OccupationAuthor, pianist, writer
EducationKingston University London, University of Nigeria
Period2012–present
GenresClassical music, African pianism, poetry, nonfiction
Notable worksChrysanthemums for Wide-eyed Ghosts (2018)

Echezonachukwu Chinedu Nduka // (born 19 July 1989) is a Nigerian poet, pianist, author, recording artist, and ethnomusicologist specializing in piano music by West African composers. His work has been featured on BBC, Radio Nacional Clasica de Argentina, Radio France International (rfi), and Classical Journey.

Career

Academia and writing

Nduka worked in Nigeria as a lecturer in Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (later known as Alvan Ikoku University of Education), Owerri. In addition, he has worked as a freelance writer and columnist for Praxis Magazine, The Nigerian Telegraph, and for African Hadithi, a Pan-African online media platform where his essays and poetry have been published. Nduka has been listed as one of the five Nigerian contemporary writers to watch out for. His published critical reviews and appraisals are centered on contemporary African literature with emphasis on poetry and nonfiction by authors of African descent.

Music

While Nduka's classical music career can be traced back to his undergraduate years as a student of Music at the University of Nigeria in the mid 2000s, his career as a solo and collaborative pianist gained momentum after his New Jersey USA debut piano recital in the summer of 2017. In many interviews and lecture-recitals, he has discussed his performance and scholarly influences, often highlighting the aesthetic and cultural resonance in the works of composers such as Akin Euba, Joshua Uzoigwe, J.H. Kwabena Nketia, Fred Onovwerosuoke, Christian Onyeji, Ayo Bankole, among others whose compositions form an essential part of his repertoire. As a classical pianist and scholar, Nduka's work focuses on African Pianism, and he has favorably been described as a pianist who "plays the piano to dazzling effect."

Views on African Pianism

As a known performer of works in the African Pianism genre, he shares his views publicly during interviews, lectures, and concerts. In an interview, Nduka expressed this personal view on the essence of African Pianism:

"The soundscape reassures me of the endless possibilities in classical music and the question of borderless identities. As a performer, it feels great to know that certain rhythmic patterns in a piece I’m performing are taken from a traditional repertoire performed by drums, gongs, rattles, xylophones, and indeed, all kinds of percussive and melorhythmic instruments. As a pianist, I can perform in collaboration with percussionists who would play an accompanying role while accentuating marked rhythmic patterns. The idea is not new. For instance, Akin Euba’s work titled ‘Igi Nla So,’ published in 1963, was composed for piano and Yoruba drums. The tonal languages of certain pieces I have performed were taken from African chants, some of them esoteric. Essentially, African pianism is the point where Western classical music and African indigenous music converge."

Literary journals and anthologies

Poetry

Nduka's poem "Etude" won the Bronze Prize at the 4th Korea-Nigeria Poetry Feast. In 2016, he emerged winner of the 6th Korea-Nigeria Poetry Feast Prize for his poem "Listen". One of his spoken-word poems titled "We Wear Purple Robes" is a reflection on terrorism in Nigeria. His work has been published in reputable literary journals and anthologies including Transition Magazine, Lolwe, Isele Magazine, Sentinel Nigeria, Sentinel Literary Quarterly, River River, The Bombay Review, Bakwa, African Writer, Jalada Africa, Saraba Magazine, The Indianapolis Review, Kissing Dynamite, The Village Square Journal, 20.35 Africa: An Anthology of Contemporary Poetry Vol.II, Black Communion: Poems of 100 New African Poets, From Here to There: A Cross Cultural Poetry Anthology, A Thousand Voices Rising: An Anthology of Contemporary African Poetry, The Solace of Nature: An Anthology of International Poetry, The Bombay Review: An Anthology of Short Fiction and Poetry, among several others. Some of his poems have been translated into Norwegian, French, and Arabic

International Poetic Project

In the summer of 2015, the third edition of the international poetic project in honor of the legendary Russian poet, singer, songwriter and actor Vladimir Vysotsky was published in the US. The project, which is essentially a world poetry anthology compiled and edited by Marlena Zimna, the Director of Polish Vladimir Vysotsky's Museum in Koszalin, features Nduka's Igbo translations of Vladimir Vysotsky's poems alongside translations in Greek, Hindi, Maori, Xhosa, Meitei, Peru, Fante, Georgian, Cebuano, Maltese, Gujarati, Assamese, French, and several other world languages by notable poets and translators from different parts of the world.

Selected Essays

  • "On Freedom Falls & Contrastive Realism", in My Africa, My City: An Afridiaspora Anthology, 2016
  • "Memories in Three Mementoes", in EXPOUND: Issue #9, 2017
  • "Art as a Lifeline", in Praxis Magazine Anthology, 2020
  • "Redreaming the Sound", in Olongo Africa, 2021
  • "An Impromptu Classical Music Session with Cobhams Asuquo", in Márọkọ́, 2022
  • "Maiduguri, for Chandos Anthem No. 9", in Lolwe, 2023

Awards, fellowships, and honors

  • 2016: Winner of the Korea-Nigeria Poetry Prize
  • 2020: Award of Creative Excellence for Waterman (6th ANBUKRAFT)
  • 2022: Chrysanthemums for Wide-eyed Ghosts shortlisted for PAWA Poetry Prize
  • 2022: The Benjamin Franklin Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania
  • 2023: Booth-Ferris Graduate Fellowship

Bibliography

  • Chrysanthemums for Wide-eyed Ghosts (2018)
  • Waterman (2020)

Filmography

  • 2015: We Wear Purple Robes (Poetry film)
  • 2016: Console Me (Short film)
  • 2016: Listen (Poetry film)
  • 2016: Where the Road Leads (Poetry film)

Recordings

  • Choreowaves: African Classical Piano Music (Digital EP)
  • Nine Encores (Digital EP)
  • The African Serenades

See also

References

  1. "An African take on classical music". BBC World Service – Newsday. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  2. "Echezonachukwu Nduka: The Nigerian pianist exporting the African sound". This is Africa. 13 July 2018. Archived from the original on 6 August 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  3. "Nigerian pianist to bridge classical worlds in the US". Music in Africa. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  4. "Echezonachukwu Nduka releases new poetry film – watch". Sabi News. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  5. "FEC approves upgrade of 4 colleges of education to Federal varsities of education". The Guardian. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  6. "FG upgrades four colleges of education to varsities". PUNCH. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  7. "Upgrading Alvan Ikoku College of Education to a university". DAILY INDEPENDENT. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. "Contributor Profile of Echezonachukwu Nduka on African Hadithi| Retrieved 5 January 2015". Archived from the original on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  9. "Preserving Igbo Cultural Dogmas via Literature: From Chinua Achebe to Onyeka Nwelue|Retrieved 2 January 2015". Archived from the original on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  10. "Interview with poet Echezonachukwu Nduka|Retrieved 7 January 2015". Archived from the original on 10 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  11. "5 Contemporary Writers You Should Watch Out For". ZODML. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  12. "Romance amidst bloodletting-Andrew Eseimokumo Oki's Bonfires of the gods". YNaija. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  13. "BN Book Review:"Bonfires of the Gods": Andrew Eseimokumo Oki". BellaNaija. 5 August 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  14. "From Affirmations for Poetic Pedagogy to Cosmic Realms: The Poet as a Teacher". African Hadithi. Archived from the original on 10 January 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  15. "The Stethoscope as Society's Pen: A Review of Dami Ajayi's Clinical Blues by Echezonachukwu Nduka". Sabinews. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  16. "I Am Still with You by Emmanuel Iduma, Reviewed: Haunting Histories". Open Country Magazine. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  17. "Imagination's Many Rooms by Amatoritsero Ede, Reviewed: Punchy Essays on Cultural Politics". Open Country Magazine. 13 January 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  18. David Ishaya Osu (10 August 2018). "I Knew I wanted to play the piano: A Conversation with Echezonachukwu Nduka". Gainsayer. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  19. "An Exclusive Interview with African Pianist Echezonachukwu Nduka". African Composers. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  20. Stephen Kenechi (21 November 2021). "INTERVIEW: Echezonachukwu Nduka reflects on burden of representation as pianist". The Cable. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  21. "An Artist in Two Worlds: A Conversation with Echezonachukwu Nduka". Isele Magazine. 15 February 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  22. "Nigerian Musician Echezonachukwu Nduka Is Finding International Fame as a Classical Musician". Arise News. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  23. Nkanu Egbe (21 January 2022). "The rhythm of the words in the piano world of Echezonachukwu Nduka". Lagos Metropolitan. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  24. Chimezie Chika (10 August 2023). "The African Serenades Review: Echezonachukwu Nduka Sets the Pace for African Art Music". Afrocritik. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  25. "Echezonachukwu Nduka on Classical Music, Poetry, and African Pianism". Isele Magazine. 5 February 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  26. The 4th Korea-Nigeria Poetry Feast Event & Awards. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  27. "World Poetry Day: Echezonachukwu Nduka wins Korea-Nigeria Poetry Feast". Olisa:The Blogazine. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  28. Miriam David (22 March 2016). "Echezona Nduka Wins Korea-Nigeria Poetry Feast Prize on World Poetry Day". Creative Writing News. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  29. "Poetry | We Wear Purple Robes | Echezonachukwu Nduka", YouTube video. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  30. Something from Ozumba: A short story by Echezonachukwu Nduka Archived 9 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  31. "Black Communion: Poems of 100 New African Poets" at Amazon. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  32. "A Thousand Voices Rising: An Anthology of Contemporary African Poetry|Retrieved 7 January 2015". Archived from the original on 21 March 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  33. A Dream in August: A short story by Echezonachukwu Nduka|Retrieved 27 February 2015
  34. Piano Blues: A short story by Echezonachukwu Nduka|Retrieved January 2015
  35. "عازف البيانو الاعمى Translated by Nasser Al-hindasi". Poem Hunter. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  36. Zimna, Marlena, ed. (2015). Vladimir Vysotsky in Various Languages: International Poetic Project. USA. pp. PT328. ISBN 978-1517091910.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  37. "Redreaming the Sound". Olongo Africa. 25 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  38. "An Impromptu Classical Music Session with Cobhams Asuquo". Márọkọ́. 25 October 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  39. "Maiduguri, for Chandos Anthem No. 9". Lolwe. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  40. Miriam David (22 March 2016). "Echezona Nduka Wins Korea-Nigeria Poetry Feast Prize on World Poetry Day". Creative Writing News. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  41. Obinna Emelike (6 March 2022). "The Lilt of The Rebel wins 2022 PAWA Poetry Prize". Creative Writing News. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  42. The Lagos Review (8 December 2023). "Echezonachukwu Nduka awarded Booth Ferris Graduate Fellowship". The Lagos Review. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  43. Naza Amaeze Okoli (1 September 2019). "Finding Light in Darkness: a review of Chrysanthemums for Wide-eyed Ghosts by Echezonachukwu Nduka". African Writer Magazine. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  44. Emmanuel Esomnofu (9 January 2021). "Waterman by Echezonachukwu Nduka Review- A Sobering Stare at the World". Open Country Magazine. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  45. "Nigerian pianist to mix dance and classical music". Music in Africa. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  46. "Nigeria's Echezonachukwu Nduka to release second piano project". Music in Africa. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  47. "The African Serenades". Presto Music. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.

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