Ariya
Repete, the Goldberg’s Roundtable on Yoruba music in Lagos last week was a
major reunification tonic for Afro Juju maestro, Sir Shina Peters and a
prominent Fuji crooner, King Wasiu Ayinde, Marshall, popular known as KWAM 1.
The
two leading Yoruba musicians from Ogun State used the occasion to to cement
what observers described as a crack in their relationship as the duo promised
to do a Collabo to consolidate the
roundtable initiative.
Stakeholders
in the music and entertainment industry also use the occasion to highlight the
vital connection between music, entertainment and culture. The stakeholders who
convened at the Lagos Airport Hotel for the first ever Roundtable on Yoruba
music, Ariya Repete, also commended
Goldberg lager beer for the initiative, which they say, signals a cultural
rejuvenation among Yorubas.
In
his keynote address at the roundtable which focused on Juju and Fuji genres of
music, Professor Tunde Babawale explained that the
rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba provided the foundation on which the music
genres of Juju and Fuji are built.
Babawale, a former Director and Chief Executive
Officer of the Center for Black and African Arts and Civilisation, CBAAC, noted
that the attachment of the Yoruba people of South West Nigeria to music and
celebration has earned them the appellation of “Owambe”, a reference to their
love for ceremonies and celebrations.
He traced the origin of Juju music to the old Saro
(Olowogbowo) quarter of Lagos where the genre emerged from ‘asiko’ music
associated with “area boys” in the quarter and added that the genre also
incorporated Brazilian Samba elements and the guitar style of Kru sailors from
Liberia.
According to the professor, the music of the culture
such as Juju and Fuji has positively impacted every area of life of the Yorubas
including the reduction of socio-economic tension and the prevalence of
religious tolerance.
A prominent Fuji musician, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall
(KWAM 1) thanked the organisers and speakers at the event for what he described
as an educative initiative meant to preserve Fuji and Juju, vital aspects of
the music and culture of the Yorubas.
Sir Shina Peters, a frontline Juju musician also commended
Goldberg for providing such a platform to discuss indigenous music and called
on other corporate organisations to emulate the effort.
Ambrose Somide, a radio broadcaster with Faaji FM and
a panellist at the roundtable enjoined young musicians of Yoruba extraction to
endeavour to sustain the genres for the promotion of the Yoruba culture.
While welcoming guests to the forum, Mr. Kufre Ekanem,
Nigerian Breweries’ Corporate Affairs Adviser, who was represented by Patrick
Olowokere, the company’s Corporate Communications and Brand Public Relations
Manager, disclosed that the Ariya Repete
initiative was borne out of the company’s respect for tradition and values of
the people.
The special guest of honour, His Imperial Majesty, Oba
Adeyeye Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi, (Ojaja II), the Ooni of Ife, who was
represented by Oba Adebiyi Asoya, the Asoya of Ile Asoya Kingdom, reiterated
the need to sustain the current cultural revival among Nigerians as championed
by Goldberg lager beer in the area of indigenous Yoruba music.
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