How it all Began

Photo Credit: Iwaleso Alabi

The inspiration for the foundation of MUSON came from Mr. Akintola Williams, OFR.  It began with his approach on 26th May, 1983 and who with Lady Brown had helped to stimulate awareness and appreciation of classical music from their arrival in Nigeria in 1979. The High Commissioner and his wife who are

profile it with mural instruments organised musical soirees  and concerts in which music lovers and performers both in Nigeria and from foreign countries participated at regular intervals at the High Commission residence and other venues in Lagos, Nigeria. Other embassies, notably the Italian and the then West German missions, We’re also encouraged to organise similar events with internationally acclaimed classical music performers who delighted a fast growing group of enthusiasts.

Mr. AKintola Williams’ approach to Sir Mervyn was in the form of a request to assist n organising a group of Artistes and friends to form a society p for classical music performers and supporters. He felt that such a group would include people like himself who “though appreciating good music, neither played any musical instrument nor could sing!” Sir Mervyn confirmed his preparedness to help organise such a group and went further to record his appreciation the initiative which was the first time anyone had broached the subject with him.

Based on the foregoing and after establishing a temporary a temporary secretariat in his residence, Mr. Akintola Williams by mid – October 1983 contacted Chief Ayo Rosiji, Patron, Mr. Louis Mbanefo, Vice – Chairman,  Mrs. Francesco Emailed and others on a proposal to form a Musical Group. With Sir Mervyn's assurance to solicit he support of artistes and other interests in Europe, the Goethe Institute of Germany and the Instituto Italiano of Italy, both of whom had been prominent in the promotion of classical music appreciation in Nigeria, the stage as set for the establishment of a musical society in Lagos.

On 25th October, 1983, a steering committee of the Musical Group met to map out the strategy for such a society. And so The Musical Society of Nigeria – MUSON was born!

The formal establishment and success of MUSON are due mainly to its Chairman,  Mr. Akintola Williams, who did all the spade work to enable the steering committee to agree on the name of the society, its objectives, structure, secretariat, administration and short and long term plans. Subsequently, the membership of the steering committee was enlarged for it to draw up the constitution, register the Society, identify artistes, and wok out a programme of performances.

After MUSON was registered use the Land (Perpetual Succession) Act, Cap. 98, a twelve – member Board of Trustees was appointed to replace the steering committee.

The logo for the Society, which was adopted in January, 1984, was designed by Mr. Duncan McKellar,  an architect and artist born and bred in Mombasa, Kenya and very much influenced by indigenous African art. Mr. McKellar had then been in Nigeria for nearly ten years as a practising architect. The logo depicts three African musical instruments which he portrayed in “a style traditionally Nigerian and in a circle or wheel always turning and eternal”. He also designed the permanent programme cover for MUSON concerts.