Strategising culture.Directing creativity.Preserving heritage.
Two decades exploring African musical heritage, engaging cultural strategy and navigating the Nigerian creative ecosystem.
Two decades at the meeting point of music, heritage & national culture
I am Olaore Opeyemi Alaba, an Arts & Cultural Strategist, Musicologist and Artistic Director working at the meeting point of music, heritage and national cultural life.
For over twenty years my work has moved from the classroom to the concert hall to the national stage, shaping how African music and culture are performed, understood and preserved. I currently serve with Nigeria's National Council for Arts and Culture and as Registrar & Board Secretary of the Directorate of Music and Hymns technical review Council, Celestial Church of Christ Headquarters Port-Novo Benin Republic/Makoko Lagos Nigeria.
Since March 2024 I have served as Artistic Director for the Cultural Troupe of the Presidential Guards Brigade and the National Ceremonial Military Parade, conceiving the cultural concepts that mark Nigeria's national days.
Created for the emancipation of African culture; using music, heritage and cultural leadership to free, uplift and unite African culture.
To build and enable an African cultural ecosystem that makes Nigerians and Africans feel at home even when abroad, keeping them connected to their roots, heritage and identity wherever they are.
The man behind the work
The Strategist
Between tradition and vision — Abuja
“Culture is not only something we inherit. It is something we direct, document and carry forward.”
Two decades in music education, performance and cultural leadership
Artistic Director for national ceremonial and cultural programmes in Nigeria
Musicologist & Ethnomusicologist researching African sacred music and heritage
Cultural exchange spanning India, Spain, China, Hungary, Trinidad & beyond
Four practices, one throughline
Each strand of the work feeds the others — research informs direction, direction informs strategy, and strategy carries the work beyond Nigeria's borders.
Arts & Cultural Strategy
Designing cultural concepts, programmes and institutional partnerships that connect heritage with national identity.
01Musicology & Research
Studying and documenting African musical traditions, sacred music and hymnody — grounded in doctoral research.
02Artistic Direction
Directing large-scale national performances, from ceremonial parades to festival programming and concert production.
03Heritage & International Exchange
Presenting African cultural expression on international stages and building cultural bridges across borders.
04A career across stage, church & state
From teaching children the theory of music to directing Nigeria's national ceremonial parades.
Artistic Director
Cultural Troupe · Presidential Guards Brigade / National Ceremonial Military Parade
- Design the artistic concept for cultural infusion into the Presidential Guards Brigade national ceremonial parade.
- Conceptualise and create the cultural and artistic programme marking Nigeria's national days.
Musicologist / Performing Arts & Data Officer
National Council for Arts and Culture — Nigeria Culture House, Abuja
- Head of the Music Unit and liaison officer to professional music associations in Nigeria.
- Music Director for the Nigerian Cultural Arts Chorale, coordinating private chorale groups nationwide.
Registrar & Board Secretary
Directorate of Music & Hymn Council · Celestial Church of Christ, International HQ
- Coordinate all liturgical music activities and document the history and liturgical music culture of CCC.
- Serve as secretariat for CCC's international music conferences, concerts and events.
Administrative Officer
Youth Federation for World Peace / Universal Peace Federation, Abuja
- Managed documentation for the Young Ambassadors for Peace programme.
- Initiated humanitarian projects and coordinated their execution.
Orchestra & Music-Theory Instructor
Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON), Onikan, Lagos
- Coordinated the Children's Orchestra.
- Taught Grade 1–5 Theory of Music.
Grounded in scholarship
Lagos State University
Ph.D, Sacred Musicology / Ethnomusicology (in view)
Lagos State University
M.Sc Music Art — Second Class (Upper Division)
Olabisi Onabanjo University
PGD / M.A Mass Communication
Olabisi Onabanjo University
Higher Diploma, International Relations
Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti
B.A / B.Ed Music Education — Upper Credit
Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education
N.C.E Music Education
Moments from the work
A selection of performance, direction and heritage imagery.
Swipe to explore →
Selected highlights
Music Director, Celestial Chorale & Orchestra annual concerts — Lagos, 2008–2024
Performing Artist & Music Director, Chinese New Year — Chinese Cultural Centre, 2015
African xylophone solo — Nigeria–Spanish Cultural Exchange with the Flamingos, 2016
Orchestrated a 100-man African drum ensemble for the National Anthem — African Drum Festival, Ogun
Produced Super Eagles supporters' traditional shakers — FIFA World Cup, Russia 2018
Artistic Director, National Democracy Day Parade cultural display, 2024 & 2025
Artistic Director, National Independence Day Parade cultural display, 2024 & 2025
NCAC Team Lead to ECOFest (ECOWAS Cultural Festival), 2025
Cultural exchanges across four continents
On the record
Selected press coverage, national ceremonial direction and performance evidence — with links to the original sources.
Beyond Performance: Opeyemi Olaore and the Emerging Face of African Musicology
New Telegraph
Review: Nigeria–Spain Concert Explores the Possibilities of Cross-Cultural Musical Dialogue
THISDAY
Redefining Executive Leadership in Music Business and Art Management — interview on Drtonez
Daily Trust
Tribal Artists from Eight Countries & 27 States to Participate in the National Tribal Dance Festival, Chhattisgarh
The New Indian ExpressSpanish Guitar Concert: Spain to Strengthen Cultural Relations with Nigeria
Daily Nigerian
Coordinated the world's largest canvas portrait of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu — unveiling concepts
BBCArtistic Director — National Democracy Day Presidential Parade cultural display
Credit announced by the commentator at the start of the display.
Artistic Director — National Independence Day Presidential Parade cultural display
Cultural display from 21:23; on-air credit at 26:25.
Interview at the unveiling of the world's largest canvas portrait of President Tinubu
Interview at 30:00, during the 24th Democracy Day celebration.
African–Caribbean instrumental arrangement & performance by Olaore Opeyemi Alaba at the International Arts and Craft Expo
Appointed by the National Council for Arts and Culture as Principal Performing Arts Assistant — official recognition as a performing artist
Confirmed by NCAC appointment letter.
African xylophone with the NCAC troupe
InstagramConducting the National Council for Arts and Culture Chorale Group
InstagramWith Mr Dotun Osunsanya (Director, Performing Arts) & NCAC choral staff after a performance
InstagramCoordinating the NCAC female chorale group at a cultural event
InstagramPerformance with the NCAC troupe
InstagramLet's work together
I welcome enquiries about collaborations, performances, cultural programming and research partnerships.