



































Tonemic Substitution


 

 

67 Awka Journal of Research in Music and the Arts Vol.15 (2021) 

 
67 

 REMAKING AFRICAN MUSICOLOGISTS FOR  

THE NEW NORMAL 

 

Folorunso David Jayeola Ph.D.  

 

Abstract 

he effects of the pandemic on global economic growth cannot be 

overemphasized. As a result of covid 19, most people, 

organization, religious group, educational sectors, etc could not 

continue their normal activities to avoid the spread of the pandemic. 

Nigeria, like every other developed and developing countries, 

announced the closure of borders (land, air, etc), still to avoid the 

spread of the deadly outbreak of the pandemic. However, with all the 

efforts to curtail the spread of covid 19 all over the world, yet, almost 

every country recorded a notable number of Covid-19 crises, where 

some lead to death and some could recover after a while at the isolation 

centre where adequate care was given.  As a result of this outbreak 

since 2019, almost everything seems to have taken a different 

approach in dealings. African musicology like every other course all 

over the world now exploring a new approach toward research and 

learning in the pandemic era – A new normal.  Therefore, this paper 

highlights the State of Covid 19 in Nigeria, challenges of African 

musicologist in the world of new normal, and suggest 

effective/scientific solutions to the challenges. 

 

Keywords: Covid19, Pandemic researcher and African Musicologist 

 

 

T 

 Awka Journal of Research in Music and the Arts (ARMA) Vol. 15 2021 



Jayeola, F. D.: Remaking African Musicologists for the New Normal... 

 Awka Journal of Research in Music and the Arts Vol.15 (2021) 68 

Introduction  

The covid 19 pandemics has changed life as we know it.  No sector 

seems to be left behind as everyone begins to get adjusted to the new 

normal; that is a new way of life. There has been an outburst of virus 

in the year past, which Nigeria is not an exception but non seems to 

have grounded or affected the global community as Covid-19. 

According to Sohrabi, C. (2020), the first known occurrence of the 

virus was at Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province of China, by 

December 2019. However, it began as a form of pneumonia cases in the 

province. The cases were also reported to the (WHO) country office 

and it was discovered to be a new train of SARS-CoV virus of 2002. 

The name Covid was however given by the WHO on the 11th of February, 

2020. This is an acronym purposely for Corona Virus Disease of 2019. 

The lab scientist made it known that the symptoms of Covid-19 are 

associated with the disease were common to that of the common cold 

in Nigeria and all over the world. Among these are; cold, fever, poor 

sense of smell and breath shortness. Oyeranti, O & Sokeye, B. (2020), 

says that “the complications are of a greater degree than the 

symptoms as it could lead to pneumonia, viral sepsis, acute respiratory 

distress syndrome, kidney failure, etc. also, Sohrabi, (2020), also note 

that the overtime have been said to worsen based on the health status 

of the individual. The Covid 19 is not an airborne disease but can be 

spread in various ways though. Avoidance of crowded places is a 

necessity because it could spread faster in a crowded environment. The 

most valuable approach to curtail the spread is to keep a safe distance 

from an infected person, constant washing of hands and cleaning of the 

possible contaminated surface. The symptoms are quite irregular, so it 

is difficult to identify an infected person without testing. The 

presence of these silent carrier has increased the spread. These are 

three categories of silent carriers according to (Lauer, 2020). 

They are;  



Jayeola, F. D.: Remaking African Musicologists for the New Normal... 

 Awka Journal of Research in Music and the Arts Vol.15 (2021) 69 

i. Asymptomatic: people who carry the active virus in their 

body but never develop any symptoms. 

ii. Presymptomatic: people who have been feeling a little unwell 

from a Covid 19 infection but continue to come in close 

contact with others. 

iii. Very mildly symptomatic: people who feel a little unwell from 

a Covid19 infection but continue to come in close contact 

with others. 

So, it is very necessary that all the careers of covid 19 should strongly 

adhere to the warning of social distancing at all time. So, by taking to 

all these protocols/preventions, a new normal is launched. African 

musicologist like other specialists would have to be proactive in a time 

like this in other to keep their relevancies in the society and global 

village. This would practically be implemented through the various 

approaches to learning. 

 

African Musicology  

Africa is a land of black, hence African constitute over 90% of black 

people of the world. They have so many traditions which are still 

prevalent and common among them till the present day.  Despite the 

missionary incursion and introductions of European civilization through 

formal education, these traditions which in another word refer to 

culture, are all dependent on African music. Many scholars/ 

musicologists in Africa and Europe have discussed African musicology 

from a different perspective and making the purpose of the study 

known to the global village. No doubt, African musicology gives better 

knowledge of traditional African music study.  Efurhievwe, M. A. 

(2020), made it known that African musicology study could be enhanced 

through knowledge reconstruction of indigenous music. So, a good 

knowledge of African musicology helps both African and non-African 

scholars to have a better understanding of African music studies in 

general. The study of African musicology has exposed scholars all over 



Jayeola, F. D.: Remaking African Musicologists for the New Normal... 

 Awka Journal of Research in Music and the Arts Vol.15 (2021) 70 

the world to the richness of African cultural heritage and the 

necessity of making it a course of study at global institutions. Bringing 

it down to the present day where the pandemic has truncate normalcy 

of every sphere of life including education, therefore, making African 

musicology up their relevancy in time like this. 

 

Remaking Nature of African Music Research 

Today, African and the entire globe have striven hard to survive in the 

face of 21st-century existence. Like a child breaking into a run, to catch 

up with his older parents or relations, the African is attempting to take 

gigantic leaps to catch up with the technology development that has 

taken over the entire American and European countries for centuries, 

and the current pandemic that has taken the entire globe on ransom. 

This is naturally a big task. As an Igbo proverb says, it is futile trying 

to catch up on a journey (on foot) with a man who left a day before. 

Thus, the hopelessness of the attempt at the so-called transfer of 

technology and other methods of scientific “advance” is manifested by 

the widening gaps between Africa and the Western world. Scientists 

of the latter land men on the being able to monitor movements into the 

remotest parts of the earth. On the other hand, Africans cannot even 

communicate with their neighbouring countries in finding a common 

solution to the Covid-19 pandemic that has killed over thousands and 

still killing, yet a final solution hasn’t been found. It seems scholars, 

researchers and even the government in the various countries in 

African are waiting seriously for w white man found a solution.   

But works of Arts in Africa have been hailed in all parts of the world. 

Our antiquities are considered second-to-none. Our music and dance 

are reckoned to be the highest cultural standards throughout the 

world. If one is to make an impact in a society in which one lives, one 

must put one’s best foot forward. So, it is important therefore that 

we should develop our arts alongside other spheres of growth to 

establish a balanced society that would enhance musicologist to get 



Jayeola, F. D.: Remaking African Musicologists for the New Normal... 

 Awka Journal of Research in Music and the Arts Vol.15 (2021) 71 

along in a time like this. This would lead to how best to continue in 

research, learning at various levels of education, even in the pandemic. 

This would encourage more input in all field or specialization areas in 

music 

It therefore necessary that in the spirit of a reawakening of the 

potentials in African heritage, and cultural abilities, researchers, in 

various field including African musicologist should resolve on 

collaborative research in finding a groundbreaking solution to the 

current pandemic facing the whole world, using the African method and 

technics. 

 

The Pandemic Outbreaks 

The entire world is currently battling with the “Covid -19” pandemic, in 

another way, known as CORONA-VIRUS.  This particular virus caused 

by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). 

This particular virus was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.  

The world health emergency of international concern regarding covid19 

on 30 January 2020 and later declared a pandemic on 11 March 2020. 

Research has it that around 15bApril, 2021, over 138 million cases have 

been confirmed with more than 2,97 million deaths attributed to 

covid19, therefore, this pandemic was regarded to be one of the 

deadliest pandemics thus far in history. 

There are no specific symptoms of covid 19 as the symptoms are 

variable, from none to life-threatening illness. It has been noted that 

the virus could spread through the air when people move or stay close 

to each other. Any infected persons could be transmitting the virus as 

they breathe, cough, sneeze or spit entering another person through 

their mouth, nose or eyes. Its spread could also be through 

contaminated surfaces.  WHO (2020), the state is that “people remain 

contagious for up to two weeks and can spread the virus even if they 

are asymptomatic”. 

 



Jayeola, F. D.: Remaking African Musicologists for the New Normal... 

 Awka Journal of Research in Music and the Arts Vol.15 (2021) 72 

Recommended Preventive Method; 

1. Social Distancing 

2. Wearing Face Mask (in the public) 

3. Ventilation and air filtering 

4. Hand Washing 

5. Covering one’s Mouth when Sneezing and Coughing 

6. Disinfection Surface 

7. Self-Isolation for people exposes or symptomatic 

Since the inception of the pandemic in December 2019, several 

vaccines have been made. Here has been a lot of treatment addressing 

the symptoms and also, some therapeutic drugs that inhibit the drug 

has been developed as well. Global authorities have responded by 

implementing travel restrictions, lockdown/ quarantines, workplace 

hazard controls and business closures.  Many organizations are also 

working on an increase in testing capacity and trace contacts of the 

infected. 

The pandemic has affected every sector globally and everyone is 

adjusting to the new normal. One of the most affected sectors is the 

educational sector where many educational institutions have been 

partially or fully closed and also, many events have been called or 

postponed. However, in a situation where some events are allowed, 

the participant numbers are reduced to very few.  

 

State of Covid 19 in Nigeria 

The record has proved that the last pandemic that has the type level 

of impact so far, was the ‘Spanish flu’ and it recorded a higher death 

rate in the second wave than in the first. The death rate was 

attributed to a mutated form of the virus which is possible with Covid 

19 situation on if an inappropriate vaccine produced (Phillips, 2014).  

Due to the pressure of a vaccine, the testing phase for the treatment 



Jayeola, F. D.: Remaking African Musicologists for the New Normal... 

 Awka Journal of Research in Music and the Arts Vol.15 (2021) 73 

is expected to be shortened. Hence, plans should be made to avoid 

second waves or contain them if is inevitable. (Radusin, 2012). 

Thevajan et al, 2020, also say that the nature of the virus shows no 

potential for mutation, however, the treatment could create 

complications. The complication could be avoided if the intended 

vaccines are given more time to be tested. The haste is understandable 

but the consequences of the haste should be considered in like manner.  

In Nigeria and as well as any part of the world, the vaccine has been 

distributed and the first round of two has been admitted on some 

individual and particularly the front-liners who are the health workers. 

However, in Nigeria, not every individual has shown interest in the 

vaccine as many have no trust in it yet. Most Nigerians believe that the 

vaccine that would not give a total resistance of the covid worth not 

taking at all. Yet, WHO warned that one will still have to adhere to 

covid19 rules even If he or she has been administered the vaccine. How 

the is the necessity of the vaccine if one would still have to observe all 

the safety rules even when the vaccine has been administered, this and 

more are the questions from most citizens of Nigeria. 

Without the strong participation of the Nigerian populace, there is an 

expected geometric increase in the rate of contamination. The rate of 

contamination in rural areas is expected to be lighter than that of the 

urban, hence, a spike of covid19 cases is expected if the spread 

increase across the rural areas. 

 

Challenges of African Musicologists/Researchers 

Researchers all over the world are facing set back in their various 

activities. In Nigeria, most schools are shut down and student and 

lecturers were advised to work from home, making use of the various 

possible online platform. The researchers on the other hand would have 

been involved in fieldwork to authenticate their findings and carry out 

various research, but the danger of covid19 may some 

difficulties/challenges are noted; 



Jayeola, F. D.: Remaking African Musicologists for the New Normal... 

 Awka Journal of Research in Music and the Arts Vol.15 (2021) 74 

1. Access denial to other states/countries to carry out field 

research work:   

2. Group Research Discouragement 

3. Unavailability of Sponsors (individual / private and government) 

4. Poor internet access due to the location of some researchers 

5. Slow working phase due to individualistic nature 

 

Solutions 

Solutions to the above-mentioned challenges and many more are not 

far-fetched.  The idea is prompt swift to enable Nigeria researcher to 

fit into global standard, rather than grounding researches due to the 

pandemic that the exact season or period to eliminate it has not been 

known.  

1. An online workshop for all Nigeria researchers on the proper use 

of the online platform for research and learning: It would be 

necessary if the federal government can make available all the 

necessary facilities available and also engaged ICT professional to 

train people on the effective ways to carry out research using the 

various online platform such as; doodles, Zoom, WhatsApp, Google 

classroom, Microsoft teams, etc. this will not only help many 

researchers but also serve as a job opportunity for many people  

 

2. Possible research during the period of a pandemic: Most people will 

continue to work from home. However, researchers are encouraged 

to engage in research that could be done via an online platform 

instead of staying idle at home in the name of lockdown or no 

movement. There are researches that consultation of e-library, 

private library, journals, books, etc. would help engaged.  

 

3. Constant internet access: One of the problems of Nigerian 

researchers in a time like this is access to the internet. In most 



Jayeola, F. D.: Remaking African Musicologists for the New Normal... 

 Awka Journal of Research in Music and the Arts Vol.15 (2021) 75 

organizations in Nigeria, there no, or rather a weak internet access 

available. This will in no doubt downgrade the effectiveness of any 

scholars who cannot provide for themselves and assess to the 

internet. It is as bad as locking oneself out of the world if a 

researcher could not communicate globally due to a lack of internet 

access. 

 

4. Attending various workshop/seminars online regularly: Due to the 

pandemic, almost all academic activities have been moved online, 

especially in the developed countries and some African countries. 

Most institutions in these developed countries do not miss a session 

to the pandemic, unlike most countries in Africa, where a whole 

session was lost to pandemic due to the inability to put effectively 

move all the learning online for both the teacher and students. 

Researchers are encouraged to use this period to attend 

international conferences and seminars abroad (online) because it 

would not be a necessity to be physically present in an international 

conference and seminars/workshop during the pandemic. Only to 

access the provided link and everyone is connected virtually. This 

will also help save the transportation expenses one could have 

incurred in the process of physical presence in an international 

conference. 

 

5. Various gadget for self-protection at any point when going out / 

moving around is inevitable: WHO and every other country’s health 

organization has warned everyone exposing himself to the 

pandemic. Therefore, every organization should endeavour to 

provide safety-protection of their worker or members as the case 

may be. This would be in support of the provisions made by the 

federal government. Safety-protections such as; face shield or 

mask, hand sanitizer, gloves, and observing social distancing. 

 



Jayeola, F. D.: Remaking African Musicologists for the New Normal... 

 Awka Journal of Research in Music and the Arts Vol.15 (2021) 76 

Conclusion 

Based on this study, the Nigerian musicologist like every other 

musicologist all over the world should have a rethink on the way 

forward in a time like this. It is no doubt a period of ‘New Norma’ in 

which no one knows the possibilities of returning to the usual way of 

life. At the moment, no date, or sign of the pandemic been crushed in 

totality, so, it is expected that it comes to stay for a moment no one 

would be able to imagine. Some developed countries like France, UK and 

the US have gone through series of lockdown from 2nd to 3rd and 

presently doing everything possible to make sure that everyone 

adheres to the safety rules to curtail the spread.  

 

Nigeria on the other hand has not gone on second lockdown likewise 

some other African Countries. So, precautions must be taken to avoid 

further calamities that the spread could cause. It is possible that the 

genes of most Africans and sunlight that is available in Nigeria are 

helping to slow down the effect of the virus when contacted, but we 

should be careful as there are other seasons where rain and cold 

dominate which then could cause second wave of the lockdown in 

Nigeria. However, the suggestions listed above would help Musicologist 

in the area of Musicology and other areas of specialization to rethink 

in other to get along in the season of ‘New Normal’. 

 

References 

Efurhievwe, O. (2018), Personal communications at ovaries. Agbor Clan 

ofUrhobo, Delta State, 17 May, ,2018. 

Lauer, S.G. (2020). The incubator period of Corona disease (COVID-

19) from public reported confirmed cases; Estimation and 

Application. Annals of International Medicine, 577-582. 

Oyeranti, O & Sokeye, B. (2020). Covid19: Security agents facing 

challenges in enforcing lockdown order in States, says the 

presidential task force. Retrieve from Tribune:  



Jayeola, F. D.: Remaking African Musicologists for the New Normal... 

 Awka Journal of Research in Music and the Arts Vol.15 (2021) 77 

https//tribuneonlineeng.com/covid-19-security-angents-are-facing-
challenges-in-enforcing-lockdown-order-in-states-
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Phillips, H. (2014). The recent waves of Spanish flu historiography. 
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