DOCSLIB.ORG

Download Now! [3.24

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Download Now! [3.24 1 IN SEARCH OF JUSTICE (EVENTS IN EGBA HISTORY) 2 IN SEARCH OF JUSTICE (EVENTS IN EGBA HISTORY) 3 To Mark the 10th Year Coronation Of Kabiyesi Alaiyeluwa Oba Adewale Adedapo Tejuoso M.A., M.B; CH.B; B.A.O.; D.T.M. & H.; D.P.H.; F.M.C.G.P.; F.W.A.C.P Patron of Rotary Recipient of Rotary International “SERVICE ABOVE SELF" Award Patron of the African Church of Nigeria (Oranmiyan) Karunwi III Osile Oke-Ona Egba By Chief Lekan Ogundimu Akingbotun Oke-Ona Egba District Governor Plus 1996-97 R.I. District 9110 Nigeria His Royal Majesty Oba Dr. Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso (JP) All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission of the publishers, Kabiyesi Oba Dr. Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso and the Author. First Published 1999 ISBN: 978-34838-8-9 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS Prologue ix Kabiyesi's Profile xiii Chapter 1 An Overview - It Is True 1 Chapter 2 Egba Roots Traced 11 Chapter 3 Life Demands Service, Courage & Sacrifice .. 37 Chapter 4 Upgrading of Obas in Ogun State 45 Chapter 5 Land Matters 57 Chapter 6 The Alake Lays Claim to Egbaland173 Chapter 7 For Record Purposes 189 Chapter 8 Conference of Egbado Obas 209 Chapter 9 Gathering of the Storm 219 Chapter 10 Upgrading of the Three Obas to Paramount Status 313 Chapter 11 The Alake Versus the Others 325 Chapter 12 Oke-Ona, Gbagura, Owu Cry Out Foul 353 Chapter 13 The Peace Makers . 367 Chapter 14 Can We Learn From Others? 405 Chapter 15 Oke-Ona Egba Chieftaincy Affairs 417 Chapter 16 Fate Takes A Hand 523 Chapter 17 The Report of 10 Years' Coronation Events... 531 Chapter 18 The 10th Year Coronation Anniversary Fallout 543 Chapter 19 Oba Dr. Tejuoso's Suggested Solution to Egba Problem Chapter 20 Epilogue 623 Chapter 21 About The Author 627 Chapter 22 A Twist In the Tale 629 5 Chief Mrs. Bisoye Tejuoso Yeye Oba Oke-Ona Egba The 3rd lyalode ofEgbaland (1916-1996) 6 Dedication Happy are the memories of the righteous. This book is dedicated to God and the sweet memory of our amiable Mama, Chief (Mrs.) Esther Bisoye Tejuoso, lya Ijo of St. James' African Church, Idiape, Abeokuta. Yeye Oba Oke-Ona Egba; The 3rd Iyalode of Egbaland The First Woman Industrialist in Nigeria "God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted" Iyalode Bisoye Tejuoso was born on 22nd June 1916 to the Royal Family of Oba Karunwi Oke-Ona Egba in Abeokuta. She was a trained teacher who distinguished herself in Trading, Entrepreneurship, Agriculture, Housing and Commerce; she was the first woman industrialist in Nigeria. She was a business woman of great repute, hard working, enterprising and reputed to have the "MIDAS TOUCH". She was recognised for her contribution to the economic development of Nigeria and was awarded the order of the Niger (OON) in 1982, also the Nigeria - American Chamber of Commerce gave her an outstanding achievement award. Chief (Mrs.) Esther Bisoye Tejuoso was simply a very likeable person, a philanthropist; who contributed significantly to the development of education, promotion of Christianity and of helping the poor and the needy. She was a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International. The kindhearted woman, a devoted mother and Christian, was brutally murdered by mindless assassins a few months after her 80th birthday celebration on 19th September 1996 at her.residence. Chief (Mrs.) Esther 7 Bisoye Tejuoso left a legacy of hard work, good deeds, a reputation of honesty and above all a good name, a well visioned son who reigns on the throne of Oke-Ona Egba, many grand children outstandingly good natured and productive. The legacy continues. Sincerely, Chief Lekan Ogundimu 8 Prologue In Search of Justice Why this book is written? Definitely not for sensationalism nor to usurp other people's rights, but to state unequivocally what history has left behind. It is written to make information available to those who ordinarily would not have had access to such information and more importantly to let posterity have access to the truth. To allow the unbiased reader reach his or her own conclusions about the issues raised, and this is the essential reason I have had recourse into Kabiyesi's Archives to record each incident as it occurred in history without prejudice. It is written to salute the courage, the determination, the doggedness and the stick-to-itiveness ("stickete") posture of His Majesty Oba Dr. Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso, Osile Oke-Ona, Egba-Karunwi III, when he wrote his famous letter of the 31st of January, 1990. With the words "I am inspired today to write. I believe, he was truly inspired, and he had written it with candor, scholarship and statesmanship befitting his status as modem day Monarch. He raised an HONEST issue, but alas others saw it as stirring the hornets' nest. In fact, Kabiyesi gave an eight years grace for the matter of Egba Federation to be discussed, debated and resolved. This book is written and catalogued with details in order to state facts and not fictions. It happens that history is repeating itself. The problem with Egba Federation ran into trouble when Governor McCullum of Lagos forged an administrative alliance between the FOUR Obas in Abeokuta in 1898 at the close of the 19th century. And whereas in 1903, the Oba Alaiyeluwa Olubuse I, was on the throne at lie- Ife, and it was his pleasant duty to 9 confirm to Governor MacGregor of Lagos the list of the twenty-one (21) High Chiefs (Obas) who were entitled to wear beaded crowns in Yoruba land, needless to repeat that the FOUR Abeokuta Obas were included in this list of Paramount Obas in Yoruba land as at 1903. History, as I ventured to say, may be repeating itself. Alaiyeluwa Arole Oodua Olubuse II is seated on the throne at Ile-Ife, what has he to add to what his grandfather made available to posterity? It behoves us to ask the question why are we left with only One Paramount Oba. We should cry out that we have been shortchanged; especially when the Obas who were non-existent in 1903 in history are now upgraded to the status of FIRST CLASS Obas. Should we honestly adopt the posture of the "Ostrich and bury our heads in the sand just to wish away a glaring injustice? OR to use the current parlance "SIDDON LOOK" made famous by Chief Bola Ige (SAN) Former Governor of Oyo State. We have been robbed!!! Late Chief Bisi Onabanjo did not turn a blind eye to the issue; he raised it in 1982 asking for three nominations for FIRST CLASS OBAS in the four divisions of Ogun State. The idea was killed. The affected sections of Egbaland raised some protest but it was too late. The dastardly act had been done! What is strange and baffling is that all Military Governors and Administrators after Chief Bisi Onabanjo never ever replied in writing to this issue of Paramountcy or for that matter any issue raised by the "OGO Obas" and communities. (Oke-Ona, Gbagura and Owu.) How can one honestly categorise their SILENCE? It would go away syndrome! No. This book- "In Search of Justice" - is chronicled so that the new generations of Egbas could know and appreciate the injustice that has been perpetrated against them by their ancestors. Their fathers' crowns were subdued, their lands were raped and their honest endeavours 10 tainted as confrontational. "How long shall a man cry, before you can hear his cry; the answer my friend in blowing in the wind". The peace seeking Egba Emergency Committee headed by the elder statesman Baapitan Egbaland Chief Biobaku's report even shot over the bar. The committee did not bother to look for the truth about Paramountcy, whether the three sectional Obas had a good case or not; instead of a restitution to their rightful places in history they were being offered a recommendation for a plate of porridge" - when in actual fact, they do not even depend on their salaries from the State for sustenance. In fact Oba Dr. Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso's entire stipend for the past ten years has been going directly into the accounts of the Oke-Ona Egba Dynasty Fund for scholarships to all deserving Nigerian students' that apply, for educational assistance, Hundreds of Nigerians have benefited from this scheme over these ten years. At the close of this century this charade may play itself out and a new dawn 21st century shall surely bring its abundant blessings of freedom and justice, to the oppressed and downtrodden. The Psalmist has this comforting words to say to the battle weary Israelites (in his 126th Psalm) thus: 1. "When the Lord brought us back to Jerusalem, it was like a dream! 2. How we laughed, how we sang for joy! Then the other nations said about us "The Lord did great things for them". 3. Indeed he did great things for us How happy we were! 4. Lord make us prosperous again Just as the rain brings water Back to dry riverbeds 5. Let those who wept as they planted their crops gather the harvest with Joy! 6. Those who wept as they went Out carrying the seed Will come back singing for Joy, 11 As they bring in the harvest" TEV SO LET IT BE LORD" Kabiyesi Alaiyeluwa OOa Dr. Adadapo Adewale Tejuoso 12 KABIYESI'S PROFILE KABIYESI ALAIYELUWA OBA DR. ADEDAPO ADEWALE TEIUOSO. ORANMIYAN. KARUNWI III.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A Re-Assessment of Government and Political Institutions of Old Oyo Empire
    QUAESTUS MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH JOURNAL A RE-ASSESSMENT OF GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS OF OLD OYO EMPIRE Oluwaseun Samuel OSADOLA, Oluwafunke Adeola ADELEYE Abstract: Oyo Empire was the most politically organized entity founded by the Yoruba speaking people in present-day Nigeria. The empire was well organized, influential and powerful. At a time it controlled the politics and commerce of the area known today as Southwestern Nigeria. It, however, serves as a paradigm for other sub-ethnic groups of Yoruba derivation which were directly or indirectly influenced by the Empire before the coming of the white man. To however understand the basis for the political structure of the current Yorubaland, there is the need to examine the foundational structure from which they all took after the old Oyo Empire. This paper examines the various political structures that made up government and governance in the Yoruba nation under the political control of the old Oyo Empire before the coming of the Europeans and the establishment of colonial administration in the 1900s. It derives its data from both primary and secondary sources with a detailed contextual analysis. Keywords: Old Oyo Empire INTRODUCTION Pre-colonial systems in Nigeria witnessed a lot of alterations at the advent of the British colonial masters. Several traditional rulers tried to protect and preserve the political organisation of their kingdoms or empires but later gave up after much pressure and the threat from the colonial masters. Colonialism had a significant impact on every pre- colonial system in Nigeria, even until today.1 The entire Yoruba country has never been thoroughly organized into one complete government in a modern sense.
    [Show full text]
  • Download This PDF File
    CONTRIBUTIONS OF YORUBA MUSICIANS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIAN POPULAR MUSIC Funso A. Fagbile and Blessing A. Amole Introduction Nigerian music as it is today has produced many kinds of art, religious, folk and popular music, some of which are known to be spread around the world. Ogisi (2005) classified Nigerian music into traditional, art, religious and popular music. He stressed further that traditional music is ethnic based and integral to culture, art music is contemplative music for aesthetic enjoyment, religious music is performed for religious activities in and outside the religious centers such as church, while popular music is essentially entertainment music. Nigerian popular music is further subdivided into two types: those in which Islamic musical element fused with African traditional music and those in which African idioms fused with elements of western music such as juju and highlife (Euba, 1989:14). Nigerian popular music is one of the least researched areas of the various types of Nigerian music and as such different areas such as contributions of Yoruba musicians in the area of popular music are yet to be addressed. Therefore, this paper tries to look into the area of Juju and Fuji music, their exponents, life history and contributions. Popular music in many African countries have seen turbulence and violence during the transition from a diverse region of folk cultures to a modern nation-state. Nigeria has more difficulty than most African countries in forging a popular cultural identity from the diverse people of the countryside. From its beginnings in the streets of Lagos, popular music in Nigeria had long been an integral part of the field of African pop, bringing in influences and instruments from many ethnic groups, most prominently including the Yoruba.
    [Show full text]
  • “Which Way Nigeria?”
    J EAN-CHRISTOPHE S ERVANT “Which way Nigeria?” MUSIC UNDER THREAT: A QUESTION OF MONEY, MORALITY, SELF-CENSORSHIP AND THE SHARIA “WHICH WAY NIGERIA?” Music under Threat: A Question of Money, Morality, Self-Censorship and the Sharia by JEAN-CHRISTOPHE SERVANT Published by Freemuse Editor in Chief: Marie Korpe Translated from French by Daniel Brown ISSN 1601-2127 Layout: Sigrún Gudbrandsdóttir Cover illustration: Ali Bature Printed in Denmark 2003 by Handy-Print © Freemuse 2003 The views in the report do not necessarily represent the views of Freemuse. Report no. 04/2003 Freemuse Wilders Plads 8 H · 1403 Copenhagen K. · Denmark tel: +45 32 69 89 20 · fax: +45 32 69 89 01 e-mail: [email protected] web: www.freemuse.org OTHER PUBLICATIONS BY FREEMUSE: 1st World Conference on Music and Censorship (2001, ISBN: 87-988163-0-6) “Can you stop the birds singing?” – The Censorship of Music in Afghanistan, by John Baily (2001, ISSN: 1601-2127) “A Little Bit Special” – Censorship and the Gypsy Musicians of Romania, by Garth Cartwright (2001, ISSN: 1601-2127) Playing With Fire – Fear and Self-Censorship in Zimbabwean Music, by Banning Eyre (2001, ISSN: 1601-2127) TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE 5 ABSTRACT 7 5 CASE STUDY: FEMI KUTI - ABOUT THE AUTHOR 8 the banning of "Bang, Bang, Bang" MAP 9 5.1 Biography of Femi Kuti 56 INTRODUCTION 11 5.1.1 NBC vs. Femi Kuti 59 1 THE YEARS OF DEMOCRAZY: 6 GANGSTA RAP AND MAKOSSA 1999-2002 15 6.1 High moral grounds versus 65 the "Music of the Devil" 2 GENERAL BACKGROUND ON NIGERIA 2.1 Religion 17 7 SHARIAPHRENIA 2.2
    [Show full text]
  • The Owu Factor in the History of Ibadanland
    The Owu Factor in the History of Ibadanland By: ESV. Tomori Moshood Adijolola OWU-IBADAN PROJECT Anniversary Public Lecture In Celebration of Owu Convention of The Royal Union of owu People (RUOP) Title The Owu Factor in the History of Ibadanland By: ESV. TOMORI MOSHOOD ADIJOLOLA ANIVS, RV, MNIM, ARVA. Former Oyo State Rating Valuation Coordinator (Rtd) CEO/MD Macos Urban Management Consultant Saturday 16th December, 2017 Cultural Centre, Ibadan, Nigeria Published by: OYESILE OLUGBODE DESCENDANTS UNION Ita-Baale Olugbode, Ibadan Nigeria. © Tomori Moshood Adijolola 2017 First Published, 2017 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the author, in who has the copyright ownership. ISBN: 978-31154-2-2 The publication was made possible through the commitment, efforts and finance of Chief ……………………………………. The Mogaji of OyesileOlugbode family compound, Ita-Baale Olugbode, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria Printed by: ………………………………… DEDICATION The Publication is dedicated to Almighty Allah, the founding of fathers of Ibadan, in particular, Oyesile Olugbode family and all Owus living in Ibadan PREFACE The present study is focused on the critical role played by Owu and Owu war in the history of evolution of Ibadan and how Owu war effectively marked the end of a particular phase of Yoruba political development. As Ibadan community evolved and its relationships with the neighbouring Egba, Owu, Oyo, Ife and Ijebu groups were modified, so the traditional hisorty of Ibadan subtly changed to give support to the new status of being the most powerful city in Yorubaland.
    [Show full text]
  • The Lost Tribes of Israel”
    ANTHROPOS 106.2011: 579 – 595 Origin of the Yoruba and “The Lost Tribes of Israel” Dierk Lange Abstract. – On the basis of comparative studies between the ademic African historiography in connection with dynastic tradition of the Ọyọ-Yoruba and ancient Near Eastern the independence of African states around 1960, history, the present article argues that Yoruba traditions of prov- scholars relied more directly on the available tra- enance, claiming immigration from the Near East, are basically correct. According to Ọyọ-Yoruba tradition, the ancestral Yor- ditions of Yoruba origin and they did some com- uba saw the Assyrian conquests of the Israelite kingdom from parative research between Yoruba, ancient Mediter- the ninth and the eighth centuries b.c. from the perspective of ranean and Israelite cultures. On the basis of this the Israelites. After the fall of Samaria in 722 b.c., they were evidence they suggested that the Yoruba immigrat- deported to eastern Syria and adopted the ruling Assyrian kings as their own. The collapse of the Assyrian empire is, however, ed from far away: either from Phoenicia, the Medi- mainly seen through the eyes of the Babylonian conquerors of terranean world, Egypt, or Nubia (Biobaku 1955: ​ Nineveh in 612 b.c. This second shift of perspective reflects the 8 – ​13; Lange 1995: 40 – ​48). If any of these supposi- disillusionment of the Israelite and Babylonian deportees from tions could be shown to be true and present opinion Syria-Palestine towards the Assyrian oppressors. After the defeat to be ideologically biased, it would mean that a cul- of the Egypto-Assyrian forces at Carchemish in Syria in 605 b.c.
    [Show full text]
  • Ibadan-Oyo Relations
    IBADAN HISTORY FROM THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY TO THE BRITISH COLONIAL PERIOD By: ESV. Tomori M.A. anivs, rsv, mnim Email: [email protected] • INTRODUCTION The ‘Ibadan-Oyo Relations’ described in this paper takes a fresh and unprejudiced look at events as recorded by tradition, old documents and products of conventional studies by eminent scholars including written accounts of Ibadan and other Yoruba local historians. A good number of them witnessed some of the events, which they narrated and also collected firsthand information from those who participated in the events that they described. Historically, Ibadan people had one time or the other settled at different places like other Yoruba “community of ancient people” after the founder had migrated from the cradle, Ile-Ife. It later became a war-camp and rose to the level of city-state, and then an empire in the nineteenth century. Its success in transforming Yoruba hereditary political institutions and adapting them to a new age free, just, and egalitarian society without a hereditary system of leadership during the same nineteenth century was remarkable. Thus, the history of Ibadan could be generally divided into periods. The old settlement established by Lagelu which endured from about 1520A.D. to 1824A.D. it was followed by the transition period when Ibadan became a war camp, or era of civil wars and controlled by the allied armies of Ife, Ijebu, Oyo and Egba refugees between 1824- 1832. Next came the full control of Ibadan by the Oyo-Osun elements of Yoruba subgroups till today. Benito Mussolini on October 21, 1935 opined that: “certainly there would be history without wars, but it would be a much different history than what we know.
    [Show full text]
  • Old Or New Palm Wine Is Truely Enchanting
    The African e-Journals Project has digitized full text of articles of eleven social science and humanities journals. This item is from the digital archive maintained by Michigan State University Library. Find more at: http://digital.lib.msu.edu/projects/africanjournals/ Available through a partnership with Scroll down to read the article. y^P ^i can Quarterly on the AtrsxVQtt Sprawling airections, Lggos is DODulatepopulated cify_ on the West African coc sCt'fyEven.thoug' h r ceased to be th<e_Dolitical capita ot Nigerig in 1, Lagos stil remains Jhe commercial hegrt- beat ot the cojuntry with mihabitaptl s drawn from vanpus parts orf NigeriNigeriaa and other nations ot ThThe world. ThiIn s cosmopolitan crowd.genergt.es a rather, yibrarpt^social,activity wni clu ing clubssuch as slan , Yoruba Tennis an g grnong othersth . An aggregatiatioon like Lsiand Clgb^for insfgncf wasw founded in. October 194 by g grouo ot patriotic anc eminent Nig.enans led by Adey.emo AlgKija who becarne the first chairman. Two maLor reasons were advanced for ine founding of the club. The. first was a desire to .provide a congenial atmosphere wher.e Nigerian el tes ot all ethnic shades could come t.ogether to discuss matters of imerest in 5ucn areas as commerce, industry, trade and. above .all, politics—areas that were then dominated by Europeans. The second was .to provide a conducive environment where politicians—-Nigerian and European.s alike—could relax. This was i.n po.in.ted contrast to the already existing Ikoy.i Club, which was notorious at the timi for .its.
    [Show full text]
  • History of Abeokuta
    HISTORY OF ABEOKUTA The Abeokutas Verse 1 Verse 2 Lori Oke ati petele Abeokuta Ilu Egba Nibe l’agbe bi mi si O Ngo ni gbagbe re Nibe l’agbe to mi dagba O Ngo gbe o leke okan mi Ile Ominira B’ilu Odo Oya Emi o f’Abeokuta s’ogo Emi o maa yo l’ori Olumo Ngo duro, l’ori Olumo Emi o s’ogo yi l’okan mi Maa yo l’oruko Egba O Wipe Ilu olokiki O Emi Omo Lisabi L’awa omo Egba ngbe Chorus Chorus Ma yo, ma yo, ma yo o, Ma yo, ma yo, ma yo o, L’ori Olumo L’ori Olumo Ma yo, ma yo, ma yo o, Ma yo, ma yo, ma yo o, L’ori Olumo L’ori Olumo ABEOKUTA WAS FOUNDED in 1830 after the intertribal wars ravaged refugees in Egba forest from their original homes between 1817 and 1830. The name of the town "ABEOKUTA" was derived from the protection which the fleeing settlers sought under the Olumo Rock, now a tourist center in the town. Abeokuta means 'the refugees under a rock', signifying the protection which the Olumo Rock offered the refugees from possible attacks. The first and major of these series of internecine wars was the one which broke out as a result of an incident at Apomu Market, now in the Irewolede Local Government area of Osun State. In 1821, an Owu man who sold alligator peppers was at Apomu Market selling his wares. He laid them out in piles containing 200 peppers each.
    [Show full text]
  • IMPRESSIONS of DETROIT City Where Dreams About America Die First AKINTAIWO
    IMPRESSIONS OF DETROIT City Where Dreams About America Die First AKINTAIWO From the Detroit Institiute of Arts, courtesy of Romare Howard Bearden Foundation Soldiers and Sailors Monument he Black brother stands at the that ruled over the people of Israel, street corner, wailing as if he is Detroit's African-American community The Mother of the Civil Rights upset in the mind. Another has played a pivotal role in many events Movement herself, Rosa Parks is also T that have shaped America's culture and roams around the nearby petrol station, from Detroit. She reminds you of asking for alms. Yet another stands in history. Nigeria's Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome- the midst of moving traffic, hawking Kuti, the iconoclast female opposition the Final Call newspaper. Here and Ever heard of 'the real McCoy'? Elijah leader who warred against traditional there a dot of White faces in a city of McCoy was the 19th century inventor chauvinism and colonial exploitation. abandoned houses and homeless whose high-quality craftsmanship of Rosa Parks it was who ignited the historic people. Detroit, America's border city seventy-eight inventions sparked the Montgomery bus boycott when she of cars has bumpy, patched-up roads phrase. He was from Detroit. Joe Louis refused to give up her seat to a White like the sub-water-ways of Lagos of the 'Brown Bomber' fame was also person. metropolis. the world heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949, victories which were a In the field of music is Aretha Franklin, Is this America the great, the country symbol of American pride and honour the acclaimed queen of soul.
    [Show full text]
  • West African Music in the Music of Art Blakey, Yusef Lateef, and Randy Weston
    West African Music in the Music of Art Blakey, Yusef Lateef, and Randy Weston by Jason John Squinobal Batchelor of Music, Music Education, Berklee College of Music, 2003 Master of Arts, Ethnomusicology, University of Pittsburgh, 2007 Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Arts and Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Ethnomusicology University of Pittsburgh 2009 ffh UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES This dissertation was presented by Jason John Squinobal It was defended on April 14, 2009 and approved by Dr. Nathan T. Davis, Professor, Music Department Dr. Akin Euba, Professor, Music Department Dr. Eric Moe, Professor, Music Department Dr. Joseph K. Adjaye, Professor, Africana Studies Dissertation Director: Dr. Nathan T. Davis, Professor, Music Department ii Copyright © by Jason John Squinobal 2009 iii West African Music in the Music of Art Blakey, Yusef Lateef, and Randy Weston Jason John Squinobal, PhD University of Pittsburgh, 2009 Abstract This Dissertation is a historical study of the cultural, social and musical influences that have led to the use of West African music in the compositions and performance of Art Blakey, Yusef Lateef, and Randy Weston. Many jazz musicians have utilized West African music in their musical compositions. Blakey, Lateef and Weston were not the first musicians to do so, however they were chosen for this dissertation because their experiences, influences, and music clearly illustrate the importance that West African culture has played in the lives of African American jazz musicians. Born during the Harlem Renaissance each of these musicians was influenced by the political views and concepts that predominated African American culture at that time.
    [Show full text]
  • The Use of Themes and Variations in Early and Contemporary Juju Music Olupemi E
    World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Vol:9, No:7, 2015 The Use of Themes and Variations in Early and Contemporary Juju Music Olupemi E. Oludare in the indigenous music of an ethnic group, those with local Abstract—This paper discusses the thematic structure of Yoruba and foreign influence, and those based of foreign styles [5, popular music of Southwest Nigeria. It examines the use of themes p.154], [9, p.104]. Juju music cuts across categories of those and variations in early and contemporary Juju music. The work is an localized in Yorubaland and exhibiting musical elements due outcome of a research developed by the author in his doctoral studies to interaction between local and Western cultures. Such at the University of Lagos, Nigeria, with the aim of analyzing the thematic and motivic developments in Yoruba popular genres. interactions in Juju music resulted in the development of Observations, interviews, live recordings and CDs were used as Western musical styles, compositional techniques, and methods for eliciting information. Field recordings and CDs of instrumentation in its musical expression, as a creative process selected musical samples were also transcribed and notated. The engaged by the musicians. These compositional techniques research established the prevalent use of string of themes by Juju include the use of themes in its melodic and rhythmic musicians as a compositional technique in moving from one musical formation. However, since African melodies and rhythms are section to another, as they communicate the verbal messages in their song. These themes consist of the popular ‘call and response’ form short and limited in range, with restrictions on the language’s found in most African music, analogous to the western ‘subject and tonal inflection, the themes are repeated and developed answer’ style of the fugue or sonata form, although without the tonic– through the process of variation to achieve musical and dominant relations.
    [Show full text]
  • THE ORIGIN and DEVELOPMENT of JUJU MUSIC: 1900-1990 Abstract the Europeans Introduced Various Forms of Western Music Which Inter
    THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF JUJU MUSIC: 1900-1990 OGISI, ABOYOWA ARUGHA Ph.D Abstract The Europeans introduced various forms of Western music which intermingled with indigenous music resulting in neo-traditional and syncretic forms of music including popular music genres. Until the early 1980s, Nigerian popular music was largely neglected and many key areas such as its history remained unaddressed. Although the history of juju has received some attention, there is a growing need for various perspectives and the advantages that go with such to be investigated. This paper is a contribution in that direction. It examines the development of juju from its early beginnings in the early 1900s to when it ceased being a major popular music genre in 1990. Findings revealed that juju is indebted to several musical traditions: western folk songs, European sea shanties, church hymnody, soldiers' songs, minstrelsy and Yoruba traditional music. Through social intercourse, these traditions fused and produced juju. Until the early sixties its patronage was within Yoruba land but by the early 1960s it had made inroads into other parts of the country and so by 1970 it was a dominant popular music genre in Nigeria. It produced several hits and mega stars arising from the oil boom economy of the early 1970s before it was eclipsed by the rising wave of gospel music. Introduction The ascendancy of popular music amidst other music types from the late 1940s has resulted in its being the most patronised music type in Nigeria. Contrary to expectations that the types of music that receive scholarly attention is predicated on its social significance, popular music remains the least researched among the various types of Nigerian music.
    [Show full text]