Yoruba Music

Yoruba language is very rich in songs and music, every Yoruba situation has a corresponding song, which is inspirational, educational. There are three catogories of Yoruba song, these are: i) Traditional song; ii) Christian song; and iii) Islamic song.

Each of these songs is subdivided. For instance, the traditional song has:

Christianity also has varieties of songs like hymns (sung at regular church service), devotional song (sung for a particular service-other than regular/congregational worship), burial sung (sung when burial service is held), and Christmas carol (sung during yuletide).

Islam also has several songs; there are regular, devotional, burial and ceremonial/festive songs.

Interestingly, Yoruba music of today is more of hybrid of the three categorized songs in terms of lyrics, styles and instruments. Through adaptation, certain Islamic and Christian songs are similar to the traditional song, a feature that is shaping and re-creating Yoruba music.

Sakara- a mention of this genre of music, mind goes to late Yussuf Ọlatunji, Ẹgba indigene; a music of Yoruba origin with Islamic tonation. Although, Sakara has undergone changes by present day singers, yet its focus as praise and adulation song still remains. Instruments include Goje, (Yoruba violin) and Sakara drum.

it is Yoruba music influenced by Islam in style, tone, message; its purpose is to praise, and to eulogize. Goje, a two string fiddle is a major instrument for this music, and Sakara drum, one of the four major family drums in Yoruba land. It is popular among Ibadan, Ẹgba, and Ijẹbu.

Wéré music- is version or brand of Islamic styled Yoruba music. Originally, Wéré is used to call muslim faithfuls to early morning prayer and to get ready for fasting during Ramadan; the Ajiwere or  Oniwere  always took the lead among the group to perform the wake-up call.

Ajisari- as the name suggests, it is another Islamic song similar to Wéré, use during the Ramadan. Differences between the (two look-alike) Islamic Yoruba songs are: Wéré is performed by group with a leader, but Ajisari is performed solo. Two, Wéré is an all-night-wake-up song; on the other hand, Ajisari is an early morning song, prior to Sari (the meal before the fast commences).

Apala- is another Yoruba song with Islamic tone, it is used during Ramadan, but it has more musical instruments than Wéré and Ajisari, prominent among the instruments is Ṣẹkẹrẹ (Shaker).

Agidigbo- it is another Yoruba genre, a piano based Yoruba music. Agidigbo is tie around the player’s neck by a loose rope, instruments for Agidigbo are Bell (Agogo, a cylindrical metal shaped object which comes in a single, double or multiple with percussion stick); Talking drum (Gangan), a popular Yoruba  drum made from wood, cone shaped with a leather cover on the two ends,  which has adjustable leather stripes on the outside for tweaking when talking drum is played. Talking drum has a percussion stick (a 1-1/4 foot long beating stick with a curve end knob) to code message by the drummer.

Waka Music- is another form of Islamic music, common among the Ijẹbu, popularized by Batilẹ Alakẹ and Salawatu Abẹni the [Waka Queen].

Ṣẹkẹrẹ- it is a Yoruba music named after Ṣẹkẹrẹ (Shaker), a large gourd with threaded beads woven around gourd, which is tied on both ends. The back and forth movements of Ṣẹkẹrẹ creates rhythmical sound as directed by the lead singer or any Ṣẹkẹrẹ holder. It is a solo music, but with a band of chorister. Ṣẹkẹrẹ musical instruments are: Aro, Dundun, Omele, Agogo. A popular Ṣẹkẹrẹ king was late Alhaji Alamu Atatalo,  this genre is popular in among  Ibadan-Oluyole people.

Fuji Music- it is another type of Islamic music, a by-product of  Wéré and Ajisari; although, Fuji music comes second after Juju in Yoruba land, Fuji genre has transcended Islamic rhythm- it has become a household music for Christians, Muslims, young, old, men, women, even non-Yoruba, who  live within and outside the geo-political confine. Also, the genre’s message has gone beyond religion confine; rather, its socially embracing messages find audience in religiously tolerant and moderate people of southern Nigeria.

Highlife: is a genre originated from Ghana. Because of the easy movement among the four former British colonies of West Africa, cultural assimilation soon became a way of life. Specifically, the introduction of highlife music into Yoruba way of life by Ghanaians in early days of colonialism was example of cultural assimilation; Highlife combines certain African elements with western styled music;  instruments include jazz horns (tenor horn, British; Alto Horn, U.S.A; Althorn, Germany), a brass-made equipment known for its high pitch sound. Another variety is the cornet.

Highlife uses guitar, early Yoruba highlife musicians were:

Afro beat genre is a variety of Highlife music, it combines funk, jazz, and highlife, its source with a chanted vocal. Prominent Afro-beat singer was late Fẹla Anikulapo-Kuti.

Juju Genre- is the most popular and widely-known music genre in Yoruba land; prominent juju maestros are:

Sunday Ishọla Adegẹye Adeniyi (popularly known as King Sunny Ade)

Ebenezer Fabiyi (known as Chief Commander Ebenezer Fabiyi Obey)

Dele Abiodun (Adawa Super King)

Prince Adekunle (known as General Adekunle)

Juju music can be traced to Abdul Rafiu Babatunde otherwise known as (Tunde king) and Ojogẹ Daniel in the second decade of 20^th century. Older generation of Juju musicians were: Adeolu Akinsanya (Baba Eto of Lagos),  Isaiah Kehinde Dairo (popularly known as I.K. Dairo); Dele Ojo (from Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State).  Another  popular juju musician  is Idowu Animashaun (the Apola King). Juju music according to history, “evolved from clubs around the country” especially those from Lagos, and also immigrants from Freetown, Sierra-Leone; people from the new-world, especially from  Brazil, and West-Indies soon became its major fans. Interestingly, the genre derived its lyrics from Yoruba and idioms of these new settlers. There are some other types of Juju genre, such as Afro-Juju, which combines juju features with Afro-beat and highlife at the background. Also, there is Kenneries- popularized by late Ọladipupọ Owomọyẹla (a.k.a Dr. Orlando Owoh). This brand of juju looks so much like highlife, because of the musical instruments use, but the message, format and lyrics are purely juju.