23rd December, 2022
Albert Oikelome has been appointed full Professor of Musicology and Performance Studies at the Department of Creative Arts (Music) University of Lagos Nigeria.
He had his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He also obtained his Master’s and Ph.D degrees in African Musicology from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Oikelome has been described as a musicologist and music icon of repute. His area of expertise is on the conceptualization of emerging popular music genres in Africa.
He is also involved in the ethnographic and musicological inquisition into the functions of these genres and their unique position in the stream of world music.
He is a Professor and lecturer with the University of Lagos, where he lectures at both undergraduate and Postgraduate levels in the Music Unit of the Department of Creative Arts.
In addition to lecturing, Oikelome supervises B.A., M.A, and Ph.D thesis.
His career began in 1993, when he joined the renowned CMS Grammar School, Bariga, Lagos, as a Senior Music tutor.
He held this role until January 1995 when he moved to Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), where he lectured in music for over 7 years.
Albert’s stint in AOCOED ended in October 2002, when he joined the University of Lagos, Department of Creative Arts as a University lecturer.
He has risen to the rank of a full Professor and continues to lecture and contribute to the Creative Arts sector of both the university and Lagos community for almost 20 years.
He is a Google scholar in Ethnomusicology, African studies and Nigerian pop music culture. He has over 50 publications in peer reviewed national/international scholarly journals.
Albert’s passion for music is also demonstrated from his work with the prestigious UNILAG Mass Choir (the official Choir of the University of Lagos), where he acts as compere and director of music for their concert.
This concert is held annually and features performances from contemporary selections of pop music as well as African art songs from notable composers across Africa.
He is also the creator of ‘Africa Sings’, a popular music festival that holds every year where young people celebrate the beauty of African Music in art form.
Oikelome has also contributed to the the development of choral studies in the Deeper Life Bible Church where he served as the Director of Music of the Deeper life Youth Choir for 15 years.