At the maiden Lagos Trumpet Conference, trumpeters and musicians were urged to discover and tap into their heritage as a means to finding their unique voice and developing Nigeria’s trumpet artistry and industry.
Musician and convener of the conference, Victor Ademofe, was inspired to host the event post his encounter with the late, internationally acclaimed trumpeter, Hugh Masekela, which transformed his career.
Ademofe who had played his heart out with his band in a bid to impressive the audience at an event at the time, said Masekela called him aside to admire his potential as a performer but advised him to be original, saying, “the world doesn’t need jazz players. They need real men. Go back to your root and find out who you are.”
Hence, the Lagos Trumpet Conference is rallying point to bring to convene players in a space to learn, and inspire one another, and empower them demonstrate their talents in the evening sessions.
Band Trumpeter for Afrobeats artiste, Fireboy DML, Olabisi Julius doubled down on the importance of focusing on adding value, understanding music, and communicating with like-minded peers.
Narrating his sojourn as Fireboy DML’s band trumpeter, Julius said he was invited to add his brass flavoured sound to the artiste’s song, and dug deep into his creative potentials to bring a fresh sound accompaniment that led to his recall and final sign up.
“I am a product of grace, having studied music at the Ibadan Polytechnic. Don’t forget to hold unto God in good times and moments of crisis. Choose good things and to do right, and imbibe the spirit of excellence. Stay focused on value,” added unassuming artiste.
Still making a case for excellence and originality, trumpeter, Etuk Ubong, who lamented that Nigerian trumpeters are in lowest of rungs in the trumpeting industry stressed self-development and knowing one’s identity, as essence of a true musicianship.
“As it is presently, it seems Nigerian trumpeters are the worst as at now but we can change the narrative and invest in self-development and discovering your own identity. The Araria trumpeters from Igbo extraction are different just as Fela started as a trumpeter with Kola Lobitos evolved and was different in highlife performing adding the essence of his Egba heritage to it.
“Cultural heritage, if it is church, do church music well and be one of the best or most sought after. A man can go beyond his thinking. You and I are the reason the trumpet community has not grown. It used to be that trumpet players are in the forefront with the likes of Victor Olaiya, Zeal Onyia, E.C Arinze and others. To even play highlife, requires the trumpeter,” said Ubong.
Anchored by Segun El Prestige, the Lagos Trumpeters Conference which held at the Saxophone Hub, Akerele, Surulere, made its impact and holds lasting memories for the scores of players, musicians and performers in attendance.
