REV. FR. BASIL CHUKWUKA OKEKE

REV. FR. BASIL CHUKWUKA OKEKE

LECTURER

Rev. Fr. Basil Chukwuka Okeke was born on October 10 1967 at Coal Camp Ogbete Enugu, Enugu State to the Family of Late Chief Gabriel Okeke Onwukaike and Evelyn Nonyelum Okeke both of Alor in Idemmili South LGA of Anambra State. He was ordained a Catholic Priest on 2nd July 1994 at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha. He obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1978/1979; WAEC General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level in June 1984. His professional qualifications include: Bachelor of Philosophy (B.Phil) Pontifical Urban University Rome 1989, Bachelor of Theology (B.Th) Pontifical Urban Uniersity Rome 1994, Bachelor and Master’s Degrees in Music Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music Rome 2006 and Doctor of musicology 2011 Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music Rome 2011; Licentiate and PhD in Sacred Liturgy Pontifical Institute of Liturgy St. Anselm Rome 2016. He holds also Certificates in English, Italian, German, French and Latin languages. In the Past he has worked as Music Director and Organist of the then Bigard Memorial Seminary Ikot Ekpene 1985-1989 and of Bigard Memorial Seminary Enugu 1992-1994; Chairman Music Commission Catholic diocese of Enugu 1995-2000; Music Teacher and Choral Director DDL Novitiate Abakpa Nike Enugu 1994-2000; Music Workshops and Training of choirs in Enugu, Onitsha, Nnewi, Nsukka, Awgu, Abuja, Abakaliki, Owerri, Okigwe, Benin City, Umuahia etc., Composer of over 150 liturgical Hymns and worship songs. Currently, he is lecturing music at Godfrey Okoye University and the HOD of Music Department, liturgy lecturer at Bigard Memorial Seminary Enugu and the Chairman of both Enugu Diocesan liturgy and Music Commissions.

Research Interests

Music, Worship and Theology

Teaching Areas

Tonal Harmony, Composition, Counterpoints, Fugue and Further Harmony

Selected Publications

  1. Okeke, Music of Worship. A cross-cultural study with Nigerian Examples, doctoral dissertation with Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, Rome 2011.
  2. _______, Nigerian Sung Liturgy. Moving from Inculturation to Interculturation. A Liturgico-Ethnomusicological Study, doctoral dissertation with Pontifical Institute of Liturgy, Roma 2016.
  3. _______, Toonu Chineke 1, A compilation of Liturgical Songs (text and music) composed by the author, Asomog Press, Enugu 1993.
  4. _______, Toonu Chineke II, A compilation of Liturgical Songs (text and music) composed by the Author, Asomog Press, Enugu 2000

 

Conferences

  1. International Conference on Liturgy and Sacred Music, organised by the Vatican Congregation for Sacred Rites and Discipline of the Sacraments, held in Rome 2006.
  2. A Week Conference on musicological Research Method organised by Pontifical Institute for Sacred Music Rome for doctorate students from 2007 -2011.

 

Seminars and Workshops

  1. Interactive Seminar for Church Music Composers in Enugu, organised by Peoples’ Creative Empowerment International (PCEI), Suite A32, Nkwegu Plaza, Durumi District, Area 1, P. O. Box 9991, Garki, Abuja, in collaboration with Enugu Diocesan Music Commission, April 2, 2016.
  2. Music Seminar- Developing the Ideal Catholic Choristers, organised by Enugu Catholic Diocesan Choir Association, held at St. Mulumba Catholic Church New Heaven, Enugu, 10 March 2018.
  3. Awka Diocesan Music Competition and workshop, held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Awka, November 2018.

Profile Summary/CV

Rev. Fr. Basil Chukwuka Okeke was born on October 10 1967 at Coal Camp Ogbete Enugu, Enugu State to the Family of Late Chief Gabriel Okeke Onwukaike and Evelyn Nonyelum Okeke both of Alor in Idemmili South LGA of Anambra State. He was ordained a Catholic Priest on 2nd July 1994 at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha.

He obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1978/1979; WAEC General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level in June 1984. His professional qualifications include: Bachelor of Philosophy (B.Phil) Pontifical Urban University Rome 1989, Bachelor of Theology (B.Th) Pontifical Urban Uniersity Rome 1994, Bachelor and Master’s Degrees in Music Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music Rome 2006 and Doctor of musicology 2011 Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music Rome 2011; Licentiate and PhD in Sacred Liturgy Pontifical Institute of Liturgy St. Anselm Rome 2016. He holds also Certificates in English, Italian, German, French and Latin languages.

In the Past he has worked as Music Director and Organist of the then Bigard Memorial Seminary Ikot Ekpene 1985-1989 and of Bigard Memorial Seminary Enugu 1992-1994; Chairman Music Commission Catholic diocese of Enugu 1995-2000; Music Teacher and Choral Director DDL Novitiate Abakpa Nike Enugu 1994-2000; Music Workshops and Training of choirs in Enugu, Onitsha, Nnewi, Nsukka, Awgu, Abuja, Abakaliki, Owerri, Okigwe, Benin City, Umuahia etc., Composer of over 150 liturgical Hymns and worship songs. Currently, he is lecturing music at Godfrey Okoye University and the HOD of Music Department, liturgy lecturer at Bigard Memorial Seminary Enugu and the Chairman of both Enugu Diocesan liturgy and Music Commissions.