Nigerian Army Band Corps

Nigerian Army Band Corps
Drum majors from the NABC during the Africa Endeavor 2008 opening ceremony.
Active1932 - present
Country Nigeria
Branch Nigerian Army
TypeMilitary Band
Role
  • Brass music
  • Folk music
Part ofDirectorate of Music
HeadquartersOjuelegba, Lagos, Nigeria
NicknameNABC
Commanders
Director of MusicColonel O.G. Olaniyi[1]

The Nigerian Army Band Corps (NABC) is the official military band branch of the Nigerian Army. It is roughly the equivalent of the Royal Corps of Army Music of the British Army, the Music Branch of the Canadian Forces, and the Australian Army Band Corps.

History

It was founded as a regimental band in 1932, with Captain J. Cooper from the Royal Life Guards Band in London originally leading the band. In 1935, the NABC was converted into a full-fledged military band, being part of the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF). Two years before the country's independence in 1960, the band was transferred from its rehearsal space in Kaduna to Abalti Barracks in Lagos. As part of the government policy of the replacement British citizens with native Nigerians in public roles, Captain Cooper was replaced in 1964 by Lieutenant Colonel Josef Olubobokun (1930–2015), who became the first native Nigerian to lead the corps.[2][3][4] During his tenure, he would become instrumental in the establishment of institutions such as the Nigerian Army School of Music.[5][6]

List of bands

  • HQ Band of the Nigerian Army Band Corps

Army Steel Band

The Nigerian Army Steel Band was established in 1977.[8] It was established following FESTAC 77 in Lagos, after which the Nigerian military were gifted the steelpan instruments assembled by the Trinidad and Tobago Starlift Steel Orchestra for their performance at the festival.[9] Since then, the Nigerian Army has periodically sent bandsmen to the Trinidad and Tobago for specialized training in pan performance.[10]

Army School of Music

Logo of the Nigerian Army School of Music

The Army School of Music (NASM) is a part of the corps that is also a branch of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). In 1987, the Nigerian Television Authority, at Victoria Island featured instructors from both the Nigerian Army and Navy Schools of Music on its educational program on various band instruments.[11]

NASM has several departments, including:[12]

  • Wind Band Department
  • Brass Band Department
  • Percussion Department
  • String Department
  • Music Theory Department

Characteristics

Musical accompaniment provided by corps ranges from jazz and traditional music to military and classical music.[13] It order to be eligible to serve in the corps, one would have to be aged between 18 and 26, as well as have a height of 168 cm (5 ft 6 in) for male members (162 cm (5 ft 4 in) for female members) and a knowledge of Nigerian regional languages, aside from capability in playing musical instruments.[14]

Directors of Music

  • Captain J. Cooper (1932-1964)
  • Colonel Josef Olubobokun (1964-16 January 1984)[15]
  • Lieutenant Colonel A.G. Ugwunze (16 January 1984-)[16]
  • Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Eru
  • Lieutenant Colonel Sati
  • Brigadier General Luckson Amaechi
  • Colonel Gerald Nwasike
  • Colonel O.G. Olaniyi (11 December 2019-Till Date)
  • Lieutenant Colonel A.G. Leku (19 February 2019-18 December 2019)[17][18]
  • Lieutenant Colonel J. E Evans
  • Lieutenant Colonel Raphael Nvene
  • Lt Colonel Michael Toriola (October 18, 2024 - Present)[19]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Shakeup in Nigerian Army, new spokespersons appointed". Premium Times. 11 February 2019.
  2. ↑ "Corps & Services - Nigerian Army- Official Website". www.army.mil.ng. Archived from the original on 2022-10-07. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  3. ↑ "Nigerian Army Band Corps (NABC) - NGVotes". Archived from the original on 2018-08-18. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
  4. ↑ Collier, Gordon (2012). Focus on Nigeria: Literature and Culture. Rodopi. ISBN 978-9401208475.
  5. ↑ Olatunji, M. O. (2010). "The Biography of Col. J.A. Olubobokun a Foremost Nigerian Military Musician".
  6. ↑ Olatunji, M O (29 October 2007). "The biography of Col. J.A. Olubobokun a foremost Nigerian military musician". Research Review of the Institute of African Studies. 23 (1). doi:10.4314/rrias.v23i1.22966.
  7. 1 2 3 4 MiliTainment TV (2023-08-05). The Historic Trooping and Presentation of Colours Parade: Nigerian Army. Retrieved 2026-06-15 – via YouTube.
  8. ↑ Abbott, Elizabeth; ContributorWriter; Advocate, Animal; Partycandidate, Animal Protection (2016-09-30). "Re-Percussions! The Steel Drum Beats Goes On to Africa!". HuffPost. Retrieved 2026-06-17. {{cite web}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  9. ↑ Clifton, Hollis (2008-05-19). "Pushing pan in Africa". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday Archives. Retrieved 2026-06-17.
  10. ↑ "Nigeria - the land of PANLAND an initiative of Xcel Steel Orchestra". www.panonthenet.com. Retrieved 2026-06-17.
  11. ↑ Olátúnjí, Michael Olútáò (December 2012). "The Indigenization of Military Music in Nigeria Issues and Perspectives". Matatu. 40 (1): 427–446. doi:10.1163/18757421-040001028. ProQuest 1265771438.
  12. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
  13. ↑ "Band Of The Nigerian Army - Fanfares". Discogs. 9 February 2017.
  14. ↑ "2018 Nigerian Army Recruitment: Musicians for Nigerian Army Band Corps". 5 January 2018. Archived from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  15. ↑ "Adeboyejo Olubobokun is Dead". December 25, 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2023 – via PressReader.
  16. ↑ School, Nigerian Army Education Corps and (1994). History of the Nigerian Army. Headquarters, Nigerian Army. ISBN 978-978-2145-36-9.
  17. ↑ "Army gets new spokesman, releases new posting". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. 11 February 2019.
  18. ↑ "Army gets new spokesman, others". The Punch. 11 February 2019.
  19. ↑ 11 reactions | Lt Colonel Michael Toriola becomes the Acting Director of the Nigerian Army Music Corps. Congratulations sir. | CeleTv CeleTv. Retrieved 2026-06-15 – via www.facebook.com.
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