This Nigerian Woman Violinist Founded An Orchestra To Promote Contemporary African Classical Music
Rosalyn Aninyei founded Vesta Orchestra in Lagos in 2017 with the goal to revitalize the local classical music culture.
Rosalyn Aninyei, a Nigerian violinist who studied in Vienna, Austria, returned to Lagos with the mission to establish an orchestra and foundation that empowers African classical musicians.
Aninyei, who also has a background in violin restoration and international business, was inspired by the vibrant music scene in Vienna and came up with the idea of founding an orchestra while living near the city’s opera house.
She founded Vesta Orchestra and Opera Foundation in Lagos in 2017, aiming to revitalize the local classical music culture.
Lagos, the most populated city in Nigeria as well as Africa, is inhabited by about 21 million people yet lacks widespread enthusiasm for classical music.
“It was always a dream of mine to come home to Nigeria and discover our own classical music and so I did that, I came home, joined hands with a few friends and we formed the orchestra and now we have a foundation that sees to it that young musicians in Lagos have a place to perform music,’’ she told Reuters.
According to Aninyei, over 1,000 creative and music students graduate from Nigerian universities each year but struggle to find a stage to present their work.
“The idea is not to convert people. The idea is to make it available so that people are aware it exists and from there, you would have people who are avid followers and listeners,” she told The Guardian Nigeria.
To promote African representation in classical music, the Vesta Orchestra and Opera Foundation launched the AfriClassical Concert Series, which features compositions by contemporary musicians of African descent, giving them a platform to showcase their talent.
Next on Aninyei’s agenda is to establish Lago’s first opera house, dedicated to regularly showcasing and performing African classical works and providing a permanent home for classical music in Nigeria.
