Nicholas G. J. Ballanta | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Nicholas George Julius Taylor |
| Born | 14 March 1893 Kissy, Sierra Leone |
| Died | 1962 (aged 68–69) Kissy, Sierra Leone |
| Occupation(s) | music scholar, composer, educator |
| Years active | 1911–1962 |
Nicholas G.J. Ballanta (1893–1962) was a Sierra Leonean music scholar, composer and educator who conducted field research of the music of West Africa in the early 20th century. His education in European music influenced his musical compositions. The years he spent collecting indigenous African music prompted him to compose musical plays or operas set in African villages; his work combines elements from both African and European music.