The ace…Mildred Archibong, the 21-year old lady trumpeter doles it out at an event
From: Dianabasi Effiong, Calabar
Mildred Asuquo Archibong, 21, a part three Micro Biology student in the University of Calabar worships at the Mount Zion Light House Full Gospel Church, Sabongari, Calabar, where she is also a chorister.
She is the only female trumpeter in the male-dominated band in the choir. Mildred, the first in the family of four – two male, two female children, resides in Bay Side community, Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River.
She performed at a function organised by the church in Calabar where she captured the interest and imagination of participants including this reporter. She also told our correspondent how she ventured into trumpeting
“I worship in my church since I was born. I am a trumpeter. I love it since I was born and when I was growing up I learnt how to play it. My parents encouraged me and they bought me a trumpet when they realised my interest. My church also encouraged me and I just love it. I have been trumpeting in a male dominated band in the church choir for no less than three years now. What spurred me was that I had not seen any female trumpeter before so I decided to take a bite and embrace it just for fun or a hobby initially.
She said she is also encouraged by an appreciative audience.
“People tend to enjoy seeing a female doing what men do. In trumpeting it is like they see me doing something that they had never seen women doing before.It actually opens doors for me. Initially there was this sceptical attitude when I tried to join the male trumpeters to perform at programmes organised in churches. The men were saying, ha, who is this girl?
She also expresses her initial challenges thus: “Sometimes they will not allow me. I persevered and was eventually accepted, not because I am a woman but because I can handle the trumpet better than some of them. I love challenges and also believe in doing something different. What a man can do I woman can do and sometimes do better, so they say!
Mildred also explained that on could be self-employed through trumpeting: “I know that trumpeters do make money. Some of my male colleagues tell me that you can make as much as N50, 000 or more per session in a brass band.
“But making money from blowing trumpets or saxophone is not my priority for now. I am doing it for my church. I am also focused on my Microbiology Degree programme at the University of Calabar where I am now a three hundred level student. For me it has been `school first, other interests can follow’. But I intend to get more exposure by joining a band after graduation. I do also rap and when I blow a trumpet and a tune in my class when we are less busy, you need to see how appreciative my class mates are – hilarious! I am encouraged.
“Trumpets are expensive, they are of varieties. Some sell for about N20, 000 or less than that.”
Mildred’s vocation, although rare, is not a novelty among Nigerian women because a number of Nigerian young women especially in the Salvation Army Church also play trumpets and do saxophones.
Miss Patience William, a part three student of Business Education at the Akwa Ibom College of Education, Afaha Nsit, said her neighbour, a young lady plays trumpet in her salvation army church choir.
Similarly, Miss Esther Effiong, who graduated in June 2015 from Air Force Comprehensive School, Uyo, said her class mate, Miss Deborah Akinola, also played trumpet in the school’s band dominated by her male colleaques.
Lina Allemano, is a Toronto, Canada based international professional jazz trumpeter, composer and performing artist while Alison Balsom is ranked as one of classical music’s great ambassadors and the most distinctive and ground-breaking classical trumpet players on the international music circuit today.
Louise Baranger is also a female professional trumpet player from the United States of America who has played for several bands
In universities and music schools across Nigeria female students also do trumpets as part of their courses.
Observers say since variety is spice of live no harm is done in competition especially where women also take to trades widely or erroneously regarded as areas where men have comparative advantage. They say it makes sense to try and fail than fail to try.
Next time you have the resources, get your daughter to learn how to play trumpet or saxophone. Let her do you a tune either for a lullaby or pleasure and let us know how you feel coming from a lady!
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