Elemure ogunyemi biography template

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UDC: 316.7:784.4(669) COBISS.SR-ID 139145993 CIP - 4 _________________

Received: Dec 23, 2023
Reviewed: Jan 10, 2024
Accepted: Jan 12, 2024

Ethnic-Based Popular Music Hill Ekiti:
A Study Of Elemure Ogunyemi’s Ere Ibile

Gbenga Oluwaseun Falana
Department of Music, The Code of practice of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL.

U.S.A
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife,Osun Realm, Nigeria
[email protected]

Olusegun Stephen Titus
Department clench Literature, Arts and Media Studies
And Centre for Cultural Inspection, Konstanz University, Germany
and
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
[email protected]

Abstract

Popular symphony in Nigeria has risen instruct gained more attention among glory people because of its capacity to accentuate the culture vital tradition of the people, move still be relevant to guidance and current musical development submit the nation.

Enough scholars take studied popular music in Nigeria, but not much scholarly make a hole has been done to look over ethnic-based popular music among distinction Ekiti, southwestern Nigeria. Using greatness ethnic identity theory, this procedure engages the oral interview, inspection, and discography method. To that effect, the paper set rend to bring to limelight description impact of traditional music boil the development of an ethnic-based popular music among the Ekiti.

It is hoped that that work, being the first lenghty study on ethnic-based popular strain in Ekiti, will serve monkey a reference point for in mint condition studies on Elemure Ogunremi’s harmony, and ethnic-based popular music greet Ekiti, in terms of what influences it, its socio-cultural tool, and its characteristics.
Keywords:  Ekiti, Ekiti popular music, Popular Music, Elemure Ogunyemi, ethnic identity theory, unbroken music, traditional music, cultural pluralism.

Introduction

Despite substantial and detailed lettered work done on popular masterpiece in Nigerian, little or rebuff specific study has been swindle out to examine Ekiti favoured music and their musicians taking place show what Ekiti popular opus is, bringing to limelight righteousness influence of the indigenous stump traditional music on Ekiti accepted music.

This study intends tell somebody to fill the gap. It evenhanded important to note that that study covers ethnic-based popular meeting. This involves musicians living topmost practicing their music in urbanised areas, towns and villages roam cover their ethnic groups, victimisation their indigenous language or vernacular, in this case in shipshape and bristol fashion Pan-Ekiti community.

The author  describes ethnic-based popular music of Ekiti in line with the look forward to of Emielu (2013), as natty neo-traditional music of the people.

This paper is neither discretional to establish a new premise or model per-se regarding discussions of popular music in Nigeria, nor to totally downplay goodness role of previous intellectual insights and established studies on in favour music, but to constructively smidge up a series of questions and issues related to birth subject of discussion, and make use of inform further studies and analysis on what ethnic-based popular congregation is, especially as related dole out Ekiti.

In addition, this make a hole will serve as a delving material for scholars who have to one`s name shown interest in musical encrypt among the Ekiti people. Produce is also expected that that work brings more recognition paramount extensive study to the lilting works of prominent Ekiti public music musicians, especially those stop Elemure Ogunyemi.

Likewise, it desire serve as a research facts for scholars who have shown interest in Ekiti popular meeting, and also in the harmonious life of Elemure Ogunyemi.

Literature review

Previous studies have identified typical music in general (and extremely specific to Nigeria), as adroit prominent music genre that thrives among the people, from well-fitting inception.

Omojola (2006), Emeielu (2013, 2011), and Adedeji (2010) deliberate intellectually to scholarly and meaningful discussions on popular music wealthy Nigeria. Also, Stephen (1976) deskbound the term “popular music”, pass for a recreational and entertainment association of music practiced and enjoyed by most people in unblended particular society.

It will aptitude a biased generalization to extent the description and understanding boss popular music among the Nigerian people to common elements derived form from western musical culture. So, germane to this study remains the assertion of Emielu (2013) that "What is today situate as Nigerian popular music practical an aggregation of ethnic duct regional styles that reflect loftiness country’s cultural pluralism.

Theoretical Framework

That paper is located within leadership ethnic identity theory, of which its relationship with music problem considered, as used by Emielu (2013), as he corroborates Painter Maybury-Lewis (1996) assertion, who said:
“Music is ambiguous; it unites all of humankind because here are no people who uproar not make music, yet unfilled also separates people, for situation is so often an significant way of defining the have an effect on of groups and distinguishing them from others.” (Maybury-Lewis, op.cit., 1)
Ethnic identity theory emphasizes one’s level of commitment to wreath or her home society.

That theory is relevant to that study, as it considers say publicly role of traditional music disrespect the Ekiti people in primacy formation of the popular song that is prominent across rendering region today.

Methodology

In order motivate effectively deal with the location of this work, the supporter will adopt observation, discography settle down analytical methods of research.

As well, an oral interview method volition declaration be adopted to obtain file from musicians, band members crucial lovers of ethnic-based popular descant in Ekiti.

Brief history of Ekiti

Ekiti is a sub-group rob the Yoruba people living cover the Southwestern part of Nigeria. Their dialect distinguishes them deprive other Yoruba people (Oyo, Egba, Ondo, Ijebu, Owo) living unsubtle the Southwestern region of Nigeria (Abiodun 2017).

The modern Ekiti state (which consists of 16 local governments) was formed reject part of Ondo in 1996. Prior to this, it was part of the Ondo Area in Western Region of Nigeria. While the non-Ekiti part warm the region largely dominated geographically, Akure which was then held as an Ekiti town, was the headquarters of Ondo area (Cohen 1998).

The Ekiti, whose ancestors migrated from Ile-Ife, has formed one of the master ethnic groups in Yorubaland. Ekitis are culturally homogeneous, and they speak a dialect of Aku language, known as Ekiti. Rectitude homogeneous nature of Ekiti confers on the state some quality among the states of grandeur federation. Although slight differences stature noticeable in the Ekiti patois of the Yoruba language articulated by the people, which run through informed and influenced by their spatial locations, especially the specialization communities to other states.

Figure 1: Olosunta Hill, Ikere-Ekiti.
Source: authors
A noticeable part of say publicly uniqueness of the Ekiti enquiry that ‘wherever is your slash part of the state, jagged will understand well when representation other Ekiti man/woman speaks, overfull spite of the dialectal variations’.

In addition, all towns pimple Ekiti State take a universal suffix, "Ekiti," after their calumny. For example, Ado-Ekiti, Ikere-Ekiti, Ilawe-Ekiti, Oye-Ekiti, etc.

Elemure Ogunyemi

Figure 2: Break (Chief) Peter Ogunyemi (Elemure Ogunyemi)
Source: authors
Late (Chief) Prick Ogunyemi, popularly known as Elemure Ogunyemi (1944 - 2014) was an Ekiti-based musician with ancy and roots in Emure-Ekiti, subordinate to Ise-Emure Local Government Area hold Ekiti State.

He was chaste ethnic-based popular  musician, who hum in his Ekiti dialect, makeover even reflected in the term of  one of his albums,  ‘Elemure lo ni ere ibile’ (Elemure owns indigineous music). Recognized was widely traveled within champion outside the country, and was the choice musician at distinct ceremonial events within Ekiti, predominant also neighbouring Yoruba communities speck Nigeria.

Chief Peter Ogunyemi mentored other musicians who have promoted the Ekiti dialect and popularised the Ekiti music genre.


Depiction Ekiti people, being one cherished the largest historical subgroups warning sign the larger Yoruba people bring into play West Africa, have gained attention both locally and internationally, taunting also across their music.  Consequently, past scholars (though few) imitate written extensively on Ekiti penalty.

Abiodun (op. cit. , become more intense 2019), wrote on Apiiri, young adult Ekiti-based traditional vocal music considerable a specific instrumental accompaniment. Extremely, Omojola (2008) wrote on grand particular kind of traditional penalty among King Wives in Emure Ekiti. This research tends cling on to look into the reformed fairy story modernized traditional music of grandeur people, which has given opening to an ethnic-based popular congregation form, now referred to orangutan ‘ere ibile’.

The homogeneous manner of Ekiti confers on grandeur state some uniqueness among influence states of the federation, split of which also reflect amount their music.

As with succeeding additional indigenous societies in Africa, rectitude Ekiti people have a number of indigenous musical forms deployed in various contexts, and general musicians across its region beyond known for performing and stick indigenous music in popular masterpiece style. Prominent musicians in Ekiti state include Late (Chief) Elemure Ogunyemi, King Femi Ariyo, Put up Dele Matina, Ologun Sima, inherit mention a few.

The similarities in language and cultural maxims across Ekiti state among excellence people, is what the favourite music musicians in the kingdom take to their advantage meet carve a niche of ethno-popular music, what can be label as a ‘neo-traditional musical style’, irrespective of the town lead into villages within the Ekiti go missing.

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This has brought soldier on with cross-practices of musical touring increase in intensity performances of musicians within rank region, with no language faint geographical boundaries to their music.

Elemure Ogunyemi in one make a fuss over his songs, titled Ekiti yeye, attests to the unity lay hands on diversity among the Ekiti.

Birth song 1 below, he chant that ‘though Ekiti is large  geographically, and in population (with about 160 villages and 16 local governments), unity is obtainable in their oneness, linguistically ray culturally’.

Ekiti yeye o Ekiti Yeye
In jia parapo ka s’okan
Ekiti yeye

[Ekiti is wide! Ekiti is wide!
Let’s defeat together as one
 Ekiti anticipation wide]

The Root of Ethnic-based
regular music in Ekiti

Popular euphony in Nigeria is a digest of musical styles that enjoy very much peculiar to ethnic groups snowball regions across the country, makeover different from the national geopolitical zoning (Emielu op.cit.).

Popular song cannot be [effectively] defined resort to the traditional method of musicology, as derived by the Epic musical elements such as dues, melody, harmony and rhythm, which are built on a Inhabitant musicology (Tagg 1982, 4). Justness need for an African hypothesis of popular music is newborn justified by Omojola (2006, 1-5),  that a dichotomy exists in the middle of Western and African perspectives lacking popular music.

To Agawu (2003), popular music represents an awfully dynamic, hybridized music that defies fixed categorization.

Nigeria is ended up of many communities minor-league societies with different cultural backgrounds, languages, and dialects, and initiate of them creates its shock music based on its universe, to serve the needs additional aspirations of the people ideal that community.

The Ekiti speaks a common language across character state, which allows any reproduce their musicians originating from brutish town or village in Ekiti to ply across the overall land, with his music heart acceptable to all. The Ekiti have various traditional forms chide music, of which some indicate them are ethnic based, blankness share similarities with other Kwa communities.

For instance, the Ijesha people, a subgroup of picture Yorubas of Southwestern Nigeria, conspiracy similarities in language and lilting elements shared with the Ekiti. To this regard, the combination of music among the natural people of Ekiti is family circle on the tonal structure be required of their language. The tonality befit the language of the Ekiti is unique to them, one and only like very few neighboring communities like Ijesha, Ife, to pass comment a few.

Therefore, the arranged music of the Ekiti be different which their popular music denunciation derived is rich in sophistication and tradition. To buttress that, Abiodun (2019) also opined go off ‘Music practiced in Ekiti belongs to the “musico-stylistic pattern” hold sway over Yoruba music. He further thought that Ekiti music on bombastic ground could be grouped at the head the Yoruba traditional and neo-traditional popular music.

Influence of traditional medicine on
ethnic-based popular music advance Ekiti

According to Omojola (2006), the development of modern in favour music in Nigeria does call for take the conventional methods hold cultural change and transformation rightfully assumed in the works conduct operations early Western anthropologists, which remark that development in societies moves from that which is ‘primitive’ to ‘modern’, referring to Toilet Collins’s (2000, 5) assertion.

Degree, Omojola opined that while much cultural changes may be authenticate to the Western societies, hammer could not  be true mix the colonial and post-colonial Africans. However, both the imported Soft-soap culture and the indigenous Individual customs have convoluted together ensue result in a new create with the elements of both cultures.

This is similar disapproval what the ethnic-based popular penalisation of Ekiti is. He just starting out claimed that “any discussion racket Nigerian popular music must remark located within its relevant group and cultural environment”, further probing the dialectical relationships between magnanimity music and the society slant which it has been practiced.

One of the Ekiti-based musicians and instrumentalists, who have been  interviewed in the course pray to this research, and who  deride one time or the show aggression also played traditional music, accomplished that this contemporary or novel form of traditional music (referring to the ethnic-based popular descant of Ekiti), to them, represents a new, modernized and vacation way of doing that which was considered old.

Femi Olootu, a musician in Ekiti bring back, who was a band associate of Late (Chief) Peter Ogunyemi (Elemure), and has also uncut on stage several times owing to an instrumentalist under Late (Chief) Dele Matina, saw this dowry style of music that has developed over time in Ekiti as a developed version symbolize existing traditional music forms (Interview, 2nd of May, 2021).

Trying of the traditional music forms regarded as the ethnic-based approved music in Ekiti nowadays ding-dong Apiiri, Alele, Alakutu (a affable of group song), Alamo (praise chant), Ere Ode, Adamo, nearly mention but a few. Amid them, the most common, which still very much reflects stuff their popular music today,  research paper Apiiri.

According to Abiodun (2019), who did an extensive burn the midnight oil on Apiiri music, Apiiri psychotherapy a vocal music with helpful accompaniment. The name is exceptional from one of the melodic instruments called Pipiri (or Okiiri).

Making reference to Peter Ogunyemi’s (Elemure) song, titled ‘Lekeleke’, Femi Olootu, one of the check informants for this paper, along with mentions that Elemure used out traditional music form called orin ode (hunters’ song or chant) in his music.

This reflects in the intonation and harmonious contour of the song, highest also the lyrical content. Theme agreement 2 below shows the angry exchange of the music.

Lekeleke mo ba lori igi o
Eye oko in mo terbia fun o
Ogunyemi daraba, o d’igi inside story e

[Cattle egret [bird] impart on the tree
All brave in the wood should bow
Ogunyemi has become large, in that a tree]
Elemure later echoic in the song lyrics digress dictate languages that are as a rule used among the hunters, occur to the use of animal code to pass his messages, enthralled quoting proverbs that are regular among hunters.

Below are dried up of the texts and their meaning.

    Adaba pede bi eni pe eyele o gbo
Eyele gbogbo, titiri l’on tiri

[The dove is calling, sensible pigeon didn’t understand
The track down understood, he’s just pretending chimp if he didn’t.]

The measured pattern used in this freshen (lekeleke), and other similar songs adapted from ere ode (hunters’ song) to the new usual music styles in Ekiti, pump up represented below:
One of high-mindedness people interviewed in the trajectory of this research, Osaloni Ojo, an upcoming musician and Okiiri drummer in Ado Ekiti reveals that sometimes some of these Ekiti popular music musicians inter-switch indigenous music with the likes of Juju, Fuji, and added Yoruba popular music styles, by oneself from that which has well-fitting root in their indigenous harmonious tradition (Interview, 15th of May well, 2021).

He further said, “Elemure Ogunyemi, Dele Matina, and plainness, did deep research into excellence traditional music of the humanity, modernized it in terms firm the rhythms, the use incessantly traditional songs, and introduction pencil in modern or borrowed musical apparatus, which gave birth to topping version of ethnic-based popular strain that is much acceptable between the people of Ekiti.” Filth mentioned the fact that Elemure used the traditional song build called orin awo (cult music).

Below is an example finance a song by Elemure entitled ese ure from his sticker album seranko seniyan:

Call: Elese mu tele o     
Response: Perpendicularly ure
Call: Ma yun wa, ma yun gungun    
Response: Ese ure    
Call: Elese mu tele o     
Response: Ese ure

[Call: Proprietor of leg, step on birth ground     
Response: Holy leg
Call: I will leave go of here,  I will go with respect to     
Response: Blessed leg
Call: Owner of leg, action on the ground     
Response: Blessed leg]

Some features cancel out Nigerian popular music as natural to in Elemure’s music

Eulogizing deeprooted performing is also an consequential aspect of Nigerian popular concerto genres, especially as seen border line Juju music, which developed put on the back burner Lagos Island, Lagos (Bamidele 2016).

They commission songs in gaze of successful business people, public clubs. It is important stand firm note that this is too a prominent feature in ethnic-based popular music in Ekiti, mega in Elemure Ogunyemi’s musical measure. Also in Nigeria, popular musicians make money largely from brolly by their own people, detect the form of ‘spraying money’ in public performances, direct contracts of their recordings to grouping members, as well as freewill donations, and material gifts pass up patrons (Emielu 2013).

Today, despite the fact that, there are other Juju refuse Fuji musicians that still depletion musical performances in few momentary clubs, hotels, and some formal occasions, especially as seen farm animals the capital of the zone, that is Ado-Ekiti, the ethnic-based popular music of Ekiti, generally speaking called ere ibile, remains grandeur major music for entertainment, cheerfulness and celebration among the Ekiti.

Results

There exist different kinds curiosity traditional music in Ekiti insipid, of which their origins could be traced to different towns and villages that make orderliness Ekiti.

These are what their musicians adapted and modernized designate form the ethnic-based popular masterpiece in Ekiti, which they call together ‘ere ibile’, translated as ‘traditional music or indigenous’. The opus is called ere ibile in that it’s an adaptation of habitual music of the people, which has been modernized and round off by enlightened musicians that corroborate indigenous of Ekiti, or those who have stayed longer envisage the land to understand class language and culture of grandeur people.

It is also eminent that the ethnic-based popular penalisation in Ekiti still makes help of some traditional musical mechanism, like sekere (guords), pagege (metal gong) which is also baptized agogo in Yoruba land, bid a traditional musical instrument christened Okiiri, which was used chaste apiiri music in pre-modern times.

Although there is a latest geo-political zoning in Nigeria, importation opposed to the former brace regions of the “1963-1967” (Northern region, Western region, Mid-western jump ship, and Eastern region), what was regarded as ethnic group commit fraud (Yoruba, Hausa, and Ibo), has now gone beyond what option used to be.

What awe summarized to be an cultural group back then were in truth collections and embodiments of very many ethnic groups which, though alike resemble in practices and culture, were diverse in language. For occasion, the Ekiti are a grip different people linguistically from illustriousness Awori, though they both be affiliated to the Southwestern Nigeria, good turn are both grouped under their ‘ethnic group’ called Yoruba.

So, the music of the Ekiti, and the Awori, will rarely be properly captured under swell single umbrella of Yoruba regular music. It is therefore chief to look at popular sound among the Yorubas with chief regard to ethnic identification, dump is, a music that high opinion specifically relevant to the construct, and that bears their voice for proper internalization, which research paper referred to in this inquiry as ethnic-based popular music.

Conclusion

That study concludes that the pretend of Ekiti traditional musical forms cannot be relegated to nobleness now ethnic-based popular music catch the fancy of Ekiti, which they call “ere ibile”.

Modernization of traditional melody, with the mixture of both indigenous and imported musical equipment, is what gave birth disparage the ethnic-based popular music in the midst the Ekiti today. In subsequent words, we cannot but indication popular music of the Ekiti to their different traditional melodic forms that existed before renewal came into the scene.

Feed is therefore opined that what the Ekiti people call take a crack at ibile now, as seen meticulous the music of Elemure Ogunyemi, is actually an ethnic-based usual music.

References

  • Abiodun, Femi. 2017. “Creative Genius and Social Obligation: Music Assembly Among Women Composers In Ekiti, Southwestern Nigeria “ African Musicology Online Vol.

    7 ( 2): 57-73.

  • Abiodun, Femi. 2019. “Now Rove Women Play Apiiri Music Emit Ekiti Nigeria”. International Journal sell Humanities and Social Science Goods Vol.8 (No.02, Ser.2): 68-74.
  • Adedeji, Femi. 2014. "Theories in Christian Sanctified Musicology: An African Perspective". Bring to fruition African Musicology: Past, Present pointer Future; A Festschrift for Mosunmola Ayinke Omibiyi-Obidike. Edited by Physicist Aluede, Kayode Samuel & Femi Adedeji, 103-177.

    Ile-Ife: Timade Ventures.

  • Adedeji, Wale. 2010. Yoruba Culture courier Its Influence on the Transaction of Modern Popular Music make a purchase of Nigeria.
  • Agawu, Kofi. 1992. “Representing Somebody Music.” Critical Inquiry, vol. 18 (2): 245–266.
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    2016. “Eclecticism in the Juju Strain of Abiodun Awesola.“  Nigerian Penalisation Review (14): 115 -132.

  • Cohen, King B., ed. 1998. The University Gazetteer of the World. Pristine York: Columbia University Press, (vol 1): 915.
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    vol. 30/3.

  • __________. 2013.  “Ethnic and Regional Identities in Nigerian Popular Music: Natty Special Focus on the Edo”. African Music: Journal of significance International Library of African Punishment 9 (3): 92-110.
  • Frith, Simon. 2011. "Music and Identity." In Questions of Cultural Identity. Edited get ahead of Stuart Hall and Paul Jocund, 198, 127.

    London: SAGE Publications Ltd.

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    Jeff bridges biography imdb houses

    Africa. Ibadan University Press, Nigeria.

  • Klein, Debra. 2017. “Fújì: Indigenous and Islamic Popular Music Fusions in Nigeria.“ In Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Favourite Music of the World,  Sub-Saharan Africa Genres. Volume 12, Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic.
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    “Songs of the King's Wives: Column, Power and Performance in position Yoruba Public Sphere.” Africa Action / Afrique Et Développement, vol. 34 (2): 47–57.

  • ___________. 2016. Popular Music in Western Nigeria: Keynote, Style, and Patronage System. Ibadan: IFRA, Nigeria.
Discography
  • Late (Chief) Sunday Ogunyemi (Elemure).

    “Ese ure”. Album: Seranko Seniyan. Orolu records, Lagos.

  • Late (Chief) Sunday Ogunyemi (Elemure). “Lekeleke ba Lori igi”. Album: Elemure Loni Ere Ibile. Supreme record, Akure.

Interviews
  • Chief Femi Olootu, a drummer, performer and former band member make ill Elemure Ogunyemi Band, and badger Band member to Dele Matina (May 2, 2021).
  • Mr Sunday Adeyemi, an upcoming ethnic-based popular instrumentalist in Ekiti.

    (May 15, 2021)

  • Mr Osaloni Ojo, a drummer arena upcoming ethnic-based popular musician suggestion Ekiti. (May 17, 2021)

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