NNE MI (My Mother)

Author: Jacob, S. David

Abstract

Nne Mi (“My Mother”) is a programmatic piano composition that transforms an Efik domestic
folktale into a vivid musical narrative. Centred on the curiosity of two children questioning
mysterious sounds from an earthen pot, the work unfolds through contrasting textures that mirror the emotional and dramatic contours of the story. A contrapuntal opening evokes the overlapping voices of the inquisitive children, while a lyrical, homophonic section portrays the grandmother’s calm authority.

Increasing harmonic density, rhythmic tension, and dynamic contrast reflect the rising excitement and the gathering of neighbours, capturing the communal character of African storytelling. Pentatonic inflections, modal colouring, and rhythmic motifs reminiscent of call-and-response reinforce the work’s cultural grounding. The composition concludes with a gentle return to tranquillity, symbolising restored harmony and the moral cadence of oral tradition. Through this expressive arc, Nne Mi emerges as a culturally rooted piano work that bridges narrative, memory, and musical imagination.

Keywords: African Storytelling Aesthetics, Call-and-Response Motifs, Efik Narrative Tradition,
Programmatic Piano Composition, Textural Contrast

Copyright © 2025 The author retains the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.

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References

Agawu, K. (2016). The African imagination in music. Oxford University Press.

Akpabot, S. E. (1986). Foundation of Nigerian traditional music. Spectrum Books.

Euba, A. (1989). Essays on music in Africa 2: Intercultural perspectives. Bayreuth African
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Nketia, J. H. K. (1974). The music of Africa. W. W. Norton.

Okunade, B. (2015). African pianism and narrative expression in contemporary composition.
Lagos University Press.

Author

Jacob, S. David