Professor Ruth Opara Publishes Article in Ethnomusicology Forum

Dr. Ruth Opara has just published a groundbreaking article in the prestigious Ethnomusicology Forum: “Songs and female names in contemporary Nigeria: a mother’s prayer or men’s muse?” In this research, she uncovers two distinct ways female names appear in music—as heartfelt prayers from mothers and as lyrical muses for men. By linking these expressions to a wider African context, she redefines how we understand onomastics—the study of names—through the lens of music.

A must-read for anyone interested in gender, culture, and sound.

PS: Dr. Opara is grateful for all the feedback she got during presentations.