Gods, music and rainmaking in Yorùbáland
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17159/tl.v62i3.18622Keywords:
Yorùbá religion, Yorùbá traditional music, rain, Ṣàngó, Yorùbá oral literatureAbstract
The salutation to Ṣàngó (Yorùbá god of thunder and lightning) exemplifies the deity through the depiction of his distinguishing volatile personality. His response to ensemble music reflects the possibilities of his influence as a facilitator of musical skills at Ṣàngó festivals and plays in Yorùbáland. The intricacies of African rhythms impact Ṣàngó’s emotions through praise singing with a Bàtá ensemble in a distinctive and impulsive way. However, the process that brings about rainfall appears not to have been sufficiently documented. In this study, we investigate the artistic form that causes rainfall whenever the salutation is rendered. Data was gathered through interviews and analysis of the play Ọba kò so by Dúró Ladipọ. The study findings prove the connection between Ṣàngó, and rain through the lens of literature and traditional Yorùbá music and festivals in honour of Ṣàngó. By exploring this intersection of art, music and environmental phenomena, the study offers valuable insight into the complex relationships between humans, culture, and the natural force.
Downloads
References
Baba Alajede (Atele). Interview with Atinúkẹ́ Adénìkẹ́ Láyadé. Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria. Sep. 2018, 25 Jun. 2019 and 16 Jun. 2023.
Baba Ayanbode (Omele Meta). Interview with Atinúkẹ́ Adénìkẹ́ Láyadé. Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria. Sep. 2018, 25 Jun. 2019 and 16 Jun. 2023.
Baba Akeem (Iyaalu Bata). Interview with Atinúkẹ́ Adénìkẹ́ Láyadé. Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria. Sep. 2018, 25 Jun. 2019 and 16 Jun. 2023.
Solábòmí Akínsọlá (rainmaker). Interview with Atinúkẹ́ Adénìkẹ́ Láyadé. Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria. Sep. 2018, 25 Jun. 2019 and 16 Jun. 2023.
Mama Akínsọlá Sangoyemiju (chanter). Interview with Atinúkẹ́ Adénìkẹ́ Láyadé. Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria. Sep. 2018, 25 Jun. 2019 and 16 Jun. 2023.
Idamoyibo, Atinuke Adenike. “Dynamics of African Dance.” Humanities Review Journal vol. 3, no. 1, 2003, pp. 67–73. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/hrj.v3i1.5941.
Idamoyibo, Atinuke Adenike. “Impact of Dùndún Drummers on the Development of Traditional Music in South West Nigeria.” African Musicology Online vol. 7, no. 1, 2017, pp. 1–19. DOI: https://doi.org/10.58721/amo.v7i1.26.
Idamoyibo, Atinuke Adenike. “Indigenous Music in a New Role.” Nordic Journal of African Studies vol. 25, nos. 3–4, 2016, pp. 20–30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.53228/njas.v25i3&4.108.
Idamoyibo, Atinuke Adenike. “The Systematic Development of Ìjálá Genre: The Significance of its Function and Substance in Contemporary Usage.” Oráfrica: Revista de oralidad africana no. 9, 2013, pp. 133–54.
Idamoyibo, Atinuke Adenike & Emily Achieng-Akuno. “Systematic Instruction for Musical Arts Education: Towards Skill Development and Cultural Growth”. Music Education in Africa, edited by Emily Achieng-Akuno. Routledge, 2019, pp. 249–61.
Idowu, Bolaji. Olodumare, God in Yorùbá Belief. Longman, 1962.
Ladipọ, Duro. Ọba kò so (The king did not hang). Dance Drama and Yorùbá Festival Music, Òṣogbo, Cultural Company of Dúró Ladipọ National Theatre, 1972.
Olubayo, Stephen. “Rain Making in Africa: The Art and Practice of Controlling the Elements.” Oriire. 25 Feb. 2023. https://www.oriire.com/article/rain-makers-in-africa-the-art-and-practice-of-controlling-the-elements.
Omojola, Bode. Rhythms of the Gods: Music, Spiritual and Social Engagement in Yorùbá Cultures. Journal of Pan African Studies vol. 3, no. 9, 2010, pp. 232¬–50. https://www.jpanafrican.org/archive_issues/vol3no9.htm.
Mama Ṣàngódeyi (chanter). Interview with Atinúkẹ́ Adénìkẹ́ Láyadé. Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria. Sep. 2018, 25 Jun. 2019 and 16 Jun. 2023.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Tydskrif vir Letterkunde
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6465-6584
.png){kind=spacer}