Ruth S. Opara

Ruth Opara’s research centers on African and African diasporic music and knowledge production, with a particular focus on music and decolonial discourse, women in music, music and fashion, and African music in transnational encounters. As a practitioner, teacher, and scholar who has lived and taught on both the African continent and in the diaspora, Ruth successfully straddles the musical cultures of both worlds.

She is currently working on a book project that explores the intersection of music and motherhood. Her book aims to demonstrate how music serves as a powerful tool for expressing motherhood, nurturing community bonds, and reinforcing the central role of maternal figures within Nigerian culture, both at home and in the diaspora.

Additionally, Ruth is curating a special issue for TBS Journal dedicated to Onyeka Onwenu, also known as “The Elegant Stallion,” a Nigerian musician who was her interlocutor but, unfortunately, passed away in 2024. This issue seeks to highlight Onwenu’s remarkable talent, the evolving nature of her work across artistic fields and musical genres, and her invaluable contributions to Nigeria, Africa, and the African diaspora through her life and art, including music, film, and journalism.

Ruth has published peer-reviewed articles in leading journals in her field, including Ethnomusicology, International Journal of Traditional Arts, and the Journal of Popular Music. Her works also appear or are forthcoming in the International Journal of Cultural Policy, Plainsong & Medieval Music, African Performance Review, American Music Research Center Journal, Ethnomusicology Forum, and others. She has been invited to present her research at many academic institutions and has delivered presentations at academic conferences around the world.