EPISTEMIC RECONCILIATION AND CULTURAL IDENTITY IN AFRICAN MILITARY MUSIC: THE NIGERIAN AIR FORCE BAND

This article examines the intersection of epistemic reconciliation, eco-epistemology, and cultural identity in African military music through a focused review of the Nigerian Air Force Band. While military ensembles in Africa have historically reflected colonial legacies, they also embody evolving cultural narratives that negotiate between imported traditions, indigenous epistemologies, and ecological awareness. The study aims to explore how the Nigerian Air Force Band re-sounds these tensions, transforming military music into a site of cultural negotiation, identity formation, and ecological justice. The sample class comprises 45 participants, including 20 band members, 15 community observers, and 10 cultural policy stakeholders, engaged through ethnographic fieldwork in 2025. Methodologically, the research employs thematic analysis and critical discourse analysis of performance transcripts, interviews, and archival materials. Findings reveal that the ensemble sustains military discipline while integrating African musical idioms and ecological themes, thereby reconciling epistemic divides and fostering cultural legitimacy. The article concludes that Nigerian military music functions as both a tool of state representation and a medium of cultural resilience, contributing to broader debates in ethnomusicology, African military history, decolonial scholarship, and sustainability studies.