Professor Kolawole Olawale from the College of Liberal Studies, Bowen University, Iwo, has delivered the university’s 24th inaugural lecture.
Olawale, a professor of Music and Applied Musicology, presented a lecture titled ‘Music as Revelation: Journeying through the Mysterium Tremendum Et Fascinans in Sound, Spirit and Scholarship.’ He noted that music education in Nigeria lacks scholarship opportunities to support those with interest and talent in the field.
He urged education stakeholders to promote the study of music through scholarships at all levels of learning, stating that the absence of such support has hindered the growth and impact of music education in Nigeria and across Africa.
According to him, the value of music education in national development-especially in shaping positive human psychology and mindset-cannot be overstated. He also observed that Nigeria has not fully explored music therapy to address health challenges and improve social well-being.
He said, ‘Through teaching, I encouraged people to view music not simply as a sound, but as a vessel of mystery to awaken an awareness of how music reveals, heals and unites. Music has a unique power to lift the human spirit, carrying it beyond the ordinary into encounters with the sacred.’
Professor Olawale described music as more than art or science, calling it a revelation-‘a sacred paradox that inspires awe and draws humans closer to the mystery of existence.’
He added that music reflects cultural values and life experiences, appearing in every society because it meets emotional, spiritual, social, and intellectual needs.
Olawale explained that applied musicology extends beyond theory and classroom teaching, emphasising the need to use music for the benefit of society.
He encouraged composers and performers to embrace African rhythms, melodies, and stories as meaningful elements in their works rather than surface embellishments. He stressed that African music should be preserved, celebrated, and shared globally in ways that respect its origins.
Olawale said music connects people to their past, shapes the present, and inspires a better future. He warned that colonial influence, cultural erosion, and technology threaten African music but also offer opportunities to revive indigenous traditions and strengthen cultural expression.
He stated, ‘Let us compose not only for performance but for purpose. Let us perform not only for applause but for awakening. For music is more than sound, it is soul made audible. It is revelation, and the revelation never concludes-it moves from this moment into the lives we live, the songs we use, and the stories we preserve.’
In conclusion, he advised Nigerian musicians to deepen their understanding of music education and avoid lyrics that incite violence, encouraging the use of uplifting and transformative words instead.
The Vice-Chancellor of Bowen University, Professor Jonathan Babalola, commended Olawale, noting that every well-taught and well-researched discipline contributes meaningfully to national development. He added that music holds deep significance and plays a vital role in human social growth.