Mrs. Chichi
Ayonmike, Ph.D is an unusual Music Director and foundation member of the Warri
Choral Society (WCS), a classical music group. While her father enlisted her
into the choir at the age of 8, she stretched it further by enrolling her own
daughter, Anino Ayonmike at the age of 6 months. This underscores what
classical music means for her. She was introduced to music by her father who
took her with him to his choir rehearsals, until she was 8 and then enlisted
her to sing in the choir. She moved naturally into WCS from St. Andrew’s
Cathedral Choir, Warri. She has performed sevel solos and duets in virtually
all the 56 Concerts of WCS, as contralto singer. In this interview, she spoke
about the forthcoming 57th Concert of WCS and the essence of
classical music. Excerpt.
To start with, you are a lecturer at the Delta State
University. Your Ph.D is in Technical and Technological Education, and even the
founder of Warri Choral Society and your husband (Mr. Joseph Ayomike), is an
Economist, how come that both of you who have no regular backgrounds or degrees
in music have been able to perform this feats at professional level?
It is the nature of music. It has only one source: God.
Music is the language of God which is then translated into sound. The sound is
then brought into this world as music at three different levels, with classical
music at the highest level. The, sound, apart from having healing effects on
the hearer is a wonderful communicator, transcending human barriers of race,
culture etc. etc. The only thing that matters is that you should
have the gift of being able to hear and understand the sound. You see, for instance,
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, whose work is being studied and analyzed at Post
Doctoral Levels had no formal schooling; under the tutelage of his father, he
learnt Arithmetic, Latin, some French, Italian and English. Yet he was said to
be capable of reaching into the deeper recesses of the heavens to bring down
his music flawlessly, effecting no cancellations in his manuscripts. Millions
of learned professionals are living by his music. So, that is the nature of
music.
What informs the choice of Chief John Odigie – Oyegun?
Could it be because he is the current national Chairman of the ruling All
Progressives Congress at the National level, Edo and Lagos States? (At this
point, the founder of Warri Choral Society and husband of Mrs. Chichi Ayonmike,
Mr. Joseph Ayonmike volunteered to answer this particular question because of
his encounter with Chief Oyegun many years ago. His request was obliged).
His choice is informed by an event that happened in 1983
when he was Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance. That year, I
sought and obtained an offer of an Off-Shore Loan from the ABN Bank of
Netherlands, the first largest Bank in Europe then to build what was to become
the first 5-Star Hotel in the Federal Capital of Abuja, Agura Hotel. I needed
what was then known as “Approved Status” from that Ministry to bring in the
money. From the point where you lodged the application to his table there were
five intervening level, and I had to pay the demanded bribes (Quite
Substantial) before his table. When my application got to him, he merely called
in and expressed surprise that I was so young pursuing such gargantuan project.
I paid no Kobo. Thus in passing, when I read in the papers recently that he
took some bribe over Ondo State Governorship Primary, I said without
hesitation, “that is not the Oyegun I know.” That apart, he is a classical
music enthusiast; he has attended several of our past 56 Concerts. So this time
he is coming not just as a special guest; the concert is being staged to honour
him for his life time achievements. He has been a Federal Permanent Secretary
(most people end up there), a State governor; and now the National Chairman of
the ruling party, APC. We are giving him an award for his lifetime
achievements. It is instructive to point out that we are not into Politics, but
registered with the Delta State Government as a non – profit making body. From
the above we could still have honoured him even if he were the PDP Chairman.
Now back to you madam, what informed your choice of Lagos
for this concert?
Accessibility for him and for his friends all over the
country, across party lines, that are coming with him.
Is classical music as a genre of music still being
appreciated in Nigeria? Has Pop and Gospel music not taking over?
All over the world, in any major city, there is a class of
people not necessary elites, who enjoy and attend classical music concerts.
They are by no means in the majority; but you would find they are the few who
have the discipline to listen to, and to hear, and to understand the language
of the sound into which, as I said above, the language of God is translated
into. Please, do not ask me who does the translation and how, because that will
be above this level of interview.
What are your expectations before and during the
concerts?
Very simple: Lovers of classical music, and those who have
heard and listened to us in the past will make whatever sacrifice it takes to
attend from wherever they are in this country. We expect them to join us on Sunday
December 4, 2016 at the Agip Hall, Muson Center, Onikan, Lagos, by 3:00pm prompt.
What exactly is classical music?
At the risk of repeating myself, I have already said that
music is the sound which is translated from the language of God and that, that
sound is then brought into this world as music, by those who are gifted to
understand the sound. It comes into the world as music; whether as classical
music or any other genre depends on the nature of the gift that inheres in the
receiver. But broadly speaking it comes at three levels: at the apex is classical
music. I will not go into the other two levels which really are not my
concerns in this interview. Anywhere in the world the lovers of classical are
in the minority but not necessarily the elites.
And you don’t agree that this genre of music is going
into extinction in Nigeria or the world?
No! No!! No!!! Nigeria or any other country has enough
serious - minded people with the discipline to listen. Let me remind you of an
incidence: When our erstwhile Head of State Murtala Mohammed was assassinated,
the Nation declared 7 days of mourning. All of a sudden, all our noisy, “Jargar
– Jargar” music disappeared. We started hearing “Hallelujah Chorus etc. etc. on
the air waves. That indicated we can be serious – minded when occasion demands.
Since then music graduates have started producing serious indigenous music.
What does the membership of WCS look like?
In WCS membership is currently about 60. One time it was
100, but have deliberately reduced it to about 60, which manageable, especially
when performing out of base. To be a member, you must have a good voice, and
preferably been involved at Choir singing, say, in a church for instance. That
will put you in a position to pass its auditioning. Once a member you are now passed
through basic music knowledge such as reading staff notation and intensive
voice and breath training, and playing of the organ for those who have the
talent.
Where do you see WCS 5 years from now?
Anything that has a beginning must eventually have an end.
The society is 24 years old. If the members have the will to carry on, I can
see them going on from decade to decade.
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