Nigerian music producer, composer and orchestrator Seyifunmi Michael will present new orchestral interpretations of two contemporary Afropop compositions at the 30th MUSON Festival on Sunday, 1 November 2026, at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos. The performance marks the return of mainstream Afrobeats to the festival’s orchestral programme after almost a decade.

The programme will feature full orchestral arrangements of Adekunle Gold’s Many People and Teni’s Uyo Meyo, two records on which Seyifunmi holds original production credits, reimagined for performance by the MUSON Orchestra.

The presentation offers a distinctive creative perspective, as Seyifunmi revisits music from his own production catalogue, translating compositions originally developed for contemporary popular music into works for a symphonic ensemble.

In recent years, collaborations between Afrobeats artists and orchestral ensembles have become increasingly visible, reflecting a growing interest in the intersection of contemporary African popular music and symphonic performance. Seyifunmi’s contribution to the MUSON Festival builds on this development, exploring how familiar African compositions can be expressed through orchestral instrumentation, harmony and arrangement.

Best known for his work as a music producer, Seyifunmi has developed an expanding practice in orchestral arrangement and live music direction. His previous work includes serving as Music Director and Orchestra Arranger for Adekunle Gold’s orchestral performances in London, Lagos, New Jersey and Toronto, working with ensembles including the Guildhall Session Orchestra and the MUSON Orchestra.

His participation in this year’s festival represents a further extension of that practice, bringing his work in contemporary music production into a programme traditionally associated with classical and orchestral repertoire.

As the MUSON Festival celebrates its 30th edition under the theme Music Sustained, the inclusion of these arrangements offers audiences an opportunity to experience familiar contemporary African compositions through a different musical lens, while highlighting the creative possibilities of orchestral interpretation.