Introduction to the Campus Project 2025
When young musicians from Nigeria and Germany took the stage at a Beethovenfest concert in Bonn, it was clear that the audience was experiencing the culmination of an incredible journey. Afrobeat rhythms pulsated alongside clarinets and violins, Nigerian protest songs merged with Beethoven’s “Egmont”. The concert with its musical mix of influences was the highlight of the Campus Project 2025 – a collaboration between Beethovenfest Bonn, the German Youth Orchestra, and DW.
The Project’s Objective
Every year the project brings young musicians together for cultural and musical exchange. This year, six young German musicians, led by the Afrobeat collective BANTU, met six Nigerian colleagues to experiment and make contacts. The aim of the project was to bridge different musical traditions and promote cultural exchange.
From Lagos to Bonn
The group first met in March 2025 in Lagos, Nigeria. For many of the German participants, it was their first time in Africa. The group met again in September when the Nigerian musicians arrived in Bonn in time for the annual Beethovenfest. After sightseeing and numerous rehearsals, the group presented a final concert during the festival on September 11th.
A Kind of Homecoming
Beethoven’s "Egmont" overture was placed in dialogue with Fela Kuti’s "Colonial Mentality", the Afrobeat pioneer’s criticism of post-colonial ways of thinking. Works by BANTU added a contemporary touch, while German and Nigerian folk songs were reinterpreted by trombonist Isaiah Odeyale. The ensemble also performed Mauricio Kagel’s "10 Marches to Miss Victory," a piece that highlights themes of pacifism and artistic freedom.
The Musical Exchange
The trip to Lagos wasn’t just focused on practicing – the group also explored the legacy of one of Nigeria’s most famous musicians, a man widely considered the father of Afrobeat: Fela Kuti. They visited Kuti’s nightclub New Afrika Shrine, which he founded in 1972. Over the years, it has hosted stars like Stevie Wonder and Bono – but more importantly, this is where the roots of Afrobeat lie. Kuti was celebrated worldwide in the 1970s for his pulsating sound that combined jazz, highlife, and pop – and was always political in nature.
Reflection and Growth
The project was also an opportunity for reflection for singer-songwriter Adé Bantu. Bantu’s father is Nigerian and his mother is German. At the age of four, he moved to Germany, where he later started his career, before returning to Nigeria to search for his roots. "We can be at home in several places at the same time. I’m just someone who feels very at home in Nigeria and Germany – and I don’t feel like I have to compare the two," explained Bantu.
One Last Stop in the Capital
The journey continued on September 12th when the musicians traveled to Berlin and performed their program at the Humboldt Forum. During their stay, the group encountered another layer of history through the museum’s controversial collection of Benin bronzes. In 2022, Germany returned ownership of the Benin Bronzes to Nigeria. Some artifacts have been returned, others remain on display, but are now officially on loan from Nigeria to the Berlin museum.
Conclusion
As for the 2025 Campus Project, many can agree that it was a success, with the musicians coming together as strangers and, as one participant said, leaving “as a family.” German clarinetist Luis McCall said: "My world view has expanded. I learned a lot about the country, the people, and the political conflicts. And this relaxed approach to making music – just get started. I will take this approach to music with me."
