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WEBINAR: Gbenopo as an expression of social capital in Badagry's Ogu musical culture

Free Public Webinar on Zoom and YouTube
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 @ 9:00 am – 10:30 am SAST

Invited Speaker

Dr Joseph Kunnuji

Senior Lecturer in African Music
University of the Free State
Bloemfontein, South Africa

In many postcolonial societies, indigenous knowledge and systems are often at risk of being rendered obsolete, especially with the introduction of formal education, a change in the political structure and integration into the global economy. Yet certain aspects of indigenous knowledge and values have shown resilience, sometimes being reimagined and recontextualised within postcolonial structures. In this webinar, I will discuss gbenopo (a conviviality concept among Ogu people of Badagry, Lagos, Nigeria) as a form of social capital that has been preserved as a survival strategy within contemporary structures, helping communities navigate layers of marginalisation and economic hardship. I will explore this concept by examining Ogu music and its performance settings as a case that animates Ogu philosophies and worldview.

About the presenter:

Joseph Kunnuji is a Senior Lecturer in African Music at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa. His doctoral research examined Ogu music as a marginalised practice in Lagos. His recent projects continue to explore lesser-known African musical practices.  He is an associate editor with the Journal of the Musical Arts in Africa and has published in the Yearbook for Traditional Music and Popular Music and Society among others. 

Register for this webinar

About Our Webinar Series

This event is part of our regular webinar sessions for social capital researchers including PhD/master students. These sessions include invited presentations from prominent scholars as well as presentations by PhD students and experts in professional practice.

For social capital researchers, these sessions are an opportunity to hear about the latest social capital research and insights from scholars working on the concept. They can be a great way to connect with people, to get advice, discuss ideas or issues, get suggestions for literature to read, or you can just listen.

Are you researching social capital and want to present your research? Click here for more information and to submit a proposal.

Generally, presentations can be 20 to 30 mins. The content of your presentation will depend on your research stage.

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