University Don wants decolonising of departments in tertiary institutions

University Don wants decolonising of departments in tertiary institutions

Prof Damian Opata, Department of English and Literary Studies, University of Nigeria Nsukka has urged  relivant  stakeholders in education sector to decolonise departments curriculum in  tertiary institutions in the country in order to move the sector forward.

Opata made the call in Nsukka while delivering a lecture during the  5th biannual national conference of Music and  the Performing Arts (NACOMPA) 2019 of the department of Music UNN, with the theme "Decolonising the Music Arts in Nigeria".

He said the theme of the conference was apt but noted it would not be enough to decolonise Music department alone but every department in tertiary institutions in the country.

"it's unfortunate that Nigeria by October 2020 will be 60 years after her independence but almost everything done in the country including curriculum of our departments are copied from our colonial masters.

"For the country to be recognized and respected in international community it must be original in everything.

"The theme of this conference is apt, the country will move to the  next level if our leaders will  muster the  political will to decolonise themselves from colonial influence,"he said.

The university Don said local music should be taught in every music department since it tells the story of our  people better, capable of promoting  unity as well as  culture  of the people.
"it's because people know the value of this traditional  music that in every big ceremonies the traditional music people will be invited to perform in order to convey the real meaning of that  event.

"The time is now not only to decolonise the  music department but entire departments in tertiary institutions as well as decolonised  Nigerians,"  he said.

In a  remark Prof Nnayelugo Okoro, the Dean faculty of Arts said NACOMPA had been astute  multi-disciplinary platform for various arts and art related professions to engage and exchange.
"This year is the fifth biannual series, the theme of the conference is interesting  and arousing to scholars and arts enthusiasts.

"The faculty joyful shares in this creative and academic processes in order to generate ideas that are withdrawn from continued colonial dependence In the addressing of indigenous problems, " he said. 

The Dean commended the department of Music for leading and running the initiative at the appropriate time.
"I encourage other departments in the faculty to learn from the department by towing more the path of re-appraisal of knowledge and consumption via colonised and decolonised  processes and forms, "he said.

Speaking Dr Ikenna Onwuegbula, the Head of Department of Music said the aim of the 2019 conference was to sow the seed of decolonising the Music department  in the country so that more percentage of music content would be more of Africa.
"Great achievement starts with a single step, what we doing today is to sow a seed, that will bear fruit in future.

"Western people know that there is revolutionary  spirit in African music and that's why they believe African music  move people to action. 

"Today we gradually losing revolutionary spirit in  African music  because of too much modernity in our music," he said.

Onwuegbula who is also UNN Orator expressed appreciation to the university management and the faculty for given approval for the conference to hold in the university.

Earlier Prof Charles Igwe, the Vice-Chancellor of UNN commended the department of Music for the conference and pledged continued support of university on Music  department that  had brought honour and many awards to the university.

It would be  recalled that Prof Josephine Mokwunyei of the department of Music and Theatre arts, University of Benin  presented a keynote address.

Highlight of the occasion was presentation of music and arts awards to deserving students by Emperor Baywood Ibe  a business mogul who was represented by his wife,  Impress Patricia Baywood Ibe.

The business mogul made a pledge of  six piano to the department which he said would be delivered to the department in January 2020.