Yoruba Music in Nigeria

The Yoruba have a percussion custom, with a typical use of the dundun hourglass tension drums. Bands using the dundun play a form of music that is known as dundun. These bands are made up of different sizes of tension drums, along with kettledrums (gudugudu). The leader of the dundun band is the iyalu who uses the drum to talk by emulating the tonality of Yoruba. Much of the Yoruba music is spiritual in nature and is dedicated to their God.

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Yoruba music has become the very essential section of new Nigerian renowned music, as a result of its early influence from European, Islamic and Brazilian types. These influences stopped from the importation of brass instruments, sheet music, Islamic drumming and methods brought by Brazilian merchants. In both the Nigeria’s very populated town Lagos and the biggest town Ibadan, these multicultural customs were brought together and became the origination of the Nigerian renowned music. The new methods such as Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde, Barrister’s Fiji, Yusuf Olatunji’s sakara and Salawa Abeni’s waka were originated mainly from Yoruba traditional music. Yoruba music has now come of age and the modern generation of Nigerian music now sings in their indigenous language. 9ice is one of those that broke into the industry with his song known as Gongo Aso and many more musicians joined. Listening to Timi Korus Babe mi Jowo denotes musician home and oversea now rap and sing in Yoruba have not forgot their heritage.