Fela Sowande brought orchestral splendour to Nigerian music, blending Yoruba tradition with Western Classical forms. Trained in London, he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists in 1943, graduating with top honours.

His compositions bridged cultures, with works such as African Suite (1945) and Obangiji (1955) combining folk melodies with symphonic structures.

His diverse body of work includes organ pieces like Yorùbá Lament (1955) and Gloria (1958); choral compositions such as The Wedding Day (1957) and Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray (1958); solo songs including Because of You (1959) and Three Yoruba Songs (1954); and orchestral works like Four Sketches (1953).

Sowande’s research into Yoruba musical heritage helped preserve treasured forms and introduced them to wider audiences. In 1960, he was one of six judges who selected the Nigerian national anthem, shaping a defining national symbol.