The Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria has expressed interest in fostering collaboration between Nigeria’s Afrobeat sound and traditional Korean music, using the global appeal of K-pop to deepen cross-cultural ties through music.
This was revealed by the KCCN Director, Jeon Ju Ho, on Tuesday during the opening of the exhibition titled “K-pop Meets Korean Traditional Music” at the Centre’s premises in Abuja.
K-pop, a global music phenomenon that originated from South Korea, has garnered millions of fans worldwide.
While highlighting the depth and emotional resonance of traditional Korean music embedded in K-pop, Ju Ho noted that no meaningful collaboration has yet occurred between Korean traditional music and Nigeria’s globally renowned Afrobeat genre — a gap he believes presents an opportunity for artistic fusion.
“When it comes to Korean traditional music, to be honest, there has not been any collaboration around Afrobeat.
“We are hoping for more collaborations and opportunities so that traditional Nigerian music can also be introduced to Korea.”
According to Ju Ho, many Nigerians love K-pop but are unaware of the traditional Korean sounds that influence it.
He added that the event aims to expose Nigerian audiences to the roots of K-pop and ignite interest in cultural exchange between the two nations.
“KCCN is promoting Korean traditional music to Nigerians, hoping for more collaborations and opportunities that traditional Nigerian music can also be introduced to Korea.
“The purpose of the exhibition is to introduce Korean traditional music to the Nigerian audience by bringing the medium of K-pop, which they are all familiar with.
“It is obvious that many Nigerians do not know about Korean traditional music, the reason we decided to bring Korean traditional music instruments that are also used in K-pop music.
“People will not have interest when it comes to traditional things because they are used to K-pop,” he said.
With Afrobeat gaining international recognition and K-pop already a global sensation, Ju Ho said a collaboration between both genres, blending Afrobeat rhythms with traditional Korean melodies, could yield powerful musical outcomes and strengthen cultural ties between Nigeria and South Korea.
