Overview

Drawing on extensive field research conducted over the course of two decades, Bode Omojola examines traditional and contemporary Yoruba genres of music. From the primeval age of Ayanagalu (the Yoruba pioneer-drummer-turned-deity-of-drumming) to the modern era, Yoruba musical traditions have been shaped by individual performers: drummers, dancers, singers, and chanters, wself-mediated visions of their social and cultural environment. Yoruba Music in the Twentieth Century explores the role of the performer and the performing group in creating these traditions, contributing to the ongoing reorientation of scholarship on African music toward individual creativity within a larger social network. Drawing on extensive field research conducted over the course of two decades, Bode Omojola examines traditional Yoruba genres such as bata and dundun drumming as well as more contemporary genres such as Yoruba popular music. The book also addresses a spectrum of social issues, ranging from gender inequality to the impactianity and Islam on Yoruba musical practice. Throughout, Omojola emphasizes the interrelatedness of the different components of the Yoruba musical landscape, as well as the role of specific individuals and groups of musicians, whohave continued to draw from indigenous Yoruba musical resources to create new musical forms in the process of engaging the social dynamics of a rapidly changing environment. Awarded honorable mention in the 2014 Kwabena Nketia Book Competition of the African Music Section of the Society for Ethnomusicology. Bode Omojola is a Five College Associate Professor of Music at Mt. Holyoke College.

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9781580464932

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The introduction situates the concept of a pan-Yoruban identity in its historical context, outlines previous research on Yoruba music, and spells out Omojola's theoretical and methodological orientation. This includes a brief discussion of his position as a native Yoruban researcher, and how he views himself as both insider and outsider in relation to the music he is studying...Using a multi-disciplinary methodology that includes musical transcription and analysis, ethnographic field-work, historical research and biography, Omojola's book paints an expansive picture of modern Yoruban musical culture that acknowledges the role of individual as well as group agency. .. (I)ts content offers music scholars of all genres insight into a number of globally relevant issues in music research today,and it contributes to the growing body of knowledge surrounding music in globalized, contemporary contexts. Omojola's ability to balance musical information obtained through transcription and analysis with ethnographic data is to be applauded, and serves as an example of the benefits of including information gleaned from both perspectives. WORLD OF MUSIC Very detailed, reflecting the author's two decades of research...Omojola's writing style is clear, concise, and thoroughly engaging...Highly recommended. CHOICE A unique and refreshing take on the study of Yoruba music, grounding a wide range of Yoruba musical genres in Nigerian history as well as in the experiences of specific ensembles and artists...The sheer scope and goals of this project make it exciting. LEEDS AFRICAN STUDIES BULLETIN While there are many books addressing one facet or another of Yoruba music, no other book covers the variety of genres and idioms discussed in Yoruba Music in the Twentieth Century. Professor Omojola's tactical choice of topics yields an in-depth yet broad treatment of the entire field of Yoruba music. After a sophisticated discussion of identity in the introduction, each chapter provides detailed, culturally insightful coverage of a different facet of this important musical tradition. A well-written, well-researched book of interest to a wide readership. --David Locke, Music Department, Tufts University

While most books on Yoruba music focus on a single genre or instrument and betray either a musicological or anthropological bent, Omojola skilfully weaves together a broad range of musical topics, grounding each in rich ethnographic detail and rigorous musical analysis. . . . Although some of the topics are highly specialized, Omojola's book is broadly accessible and makes valuable contributions to scholarship on identity and African music . . . The author's crisp musical analyses and rich ethnographic descriptions give his theoretical arguments a satisfying concreteness. It is this same characteristic that makes the book thoroughly teachable, full of detailed examples ready for comparison with other world traditions. I would highly recommend it for advanced courses in ethnomusicology and musicology, as well for specialists in African music, literature, and history. --Jesse Ruskin (2014 YEARBOOK FOR TRADITIONAL MUSIC) Using a multi-disciplinary methodology that includes musical transcription and analysis, ethnographic field-work, historical research and biography, Omojola's book paints an expansive picture of modern Yoruban musical culture that acknowledges the role of individual as well as group agency . . . Omojola's ability to balance musical information obtained through transcription and analysis with ethnographic data is to be applauded, and serves as an example of the benefits of including information gleaned from both perspectives. WORLD OF MUSIC Very detailed, reflecting the author's two decades of research . . . Omojola's writing style is clear, concise, and thoroughly engaging . . . Highly recommended. CHOICE A unique and refreshing take on the study of Yoruba music, grounding a wide range of Yoruba musical genres in Nigerian history as well as in the experiences of specific ensembles and artists . . . The sheer scope and goals of this project make it exciting. LEEDS AFRICAN STUDIES BULLETIN (N)o other book covers the variety of genres and idioms discussed in Yoruba Music in the Twentieth Century. Professor Omojola's tactical choice of topics yields an in-depth yet broad treatment of the entire field of Yoruba music. After a sophisticated discussion of identity in the introduction, each chapter provides detailed, culturally insightful coverage of a different facet of this important musical tradition. detailed, culturally insightful coverage of a different facet of this important musical tradition. A

The introduction situates the concept of a pan-Yoruban identity in its historical context, outlines previous research on Yoruba music, and spells out Omojola's theoretical and methodological orientation. This includes a brief discussion of his position as a native Yoruban researcher, and how he views himself as both insider and outsider in relation to the music he is studying...Using a multi-disciplinary methodology that includes musical transcription and analysis, ethnographic field-work, historical research and biography, Omojola's book paints an expansive picture of modern Yoruban musical culture that acknowledges the role of individual as well as group agency. .. (I)ts content offers music scholars of all genres insight into a number of globally relevant issues in music research today,and it contributes to the growing body of knowledge surrounding music in globalized, contemporary contexts. Omojola's ability to balance musical information obtained through transcription and analysis with ethnographic data is to be applauded, and serves as an example of the benefits of including information gleaned from both perspectives. WORLD OF MUSIC Very detailed, reflecting the author's two decades of research...Omojola's writing style is clear, concise, and thoroughly engaging...Highly recommended. CHOICE A unique and refreshing take on the study of Yoruba music, grounding a wide range of Yoruba musical genres in Nigerian history as well as in the experiences of specific ensembles and artists...The sheer scope and goals of this project make it exciting. LEEDS AFRICAN STUDIES BULLETIN While there are many books addressing one facet or another of Yoruba music, no other book covers the variety of genres and idioms discussed in Yoruba Music in the Twentieth Century. Professor Omojola's tactical choice of topics yields an in-depth yet broad treatment of the entire field of Yoruba music. After a sophisticated discussion of identity in the introduction, each chapter provides detailed, culturally insightful coverage of a different facet of this important musical tradition. A well-written, well-researched book of interest to a wide readership. --David Locke, Music Department, Tufts University Bode Omojola's survey of contemporary Yoruba music is ambitious combination of musical traditions, musical styles, and individual musicians and performances. ANTHROPOLOGY REVIEW DATABASE

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