The Role of Music in Society

1731 Words4 Pages

Music has played a role in society since the dawn of man. Said to be the beginning of communication in early civilization, music and dance have influenced how we think, act and treat members of our own society. Song and dance is used in rites of passage ceremonies such as births, weddings and funerals throughout the world. Jamaican and Yoruba cultures have made many contributions to our society. The uses of this music as a vehicle for political issues, values, and beliefs have been used by many musicians from different cultures. I intend to discuss the Contribution of these two contemporary cultures music and their effect on society.

The Yoruba people live mostly in Southwestern Nigeria. Traditionally, the Yoruba organized themselves into networks of related villages, towns and kingdoms; with most of them headed by a king or mayor. (2013) Music and dance have always been an important part of Yoruba culture for those living in Nigeria as well as in the diaspora. Yoruba music and dance are used for many different occasions in life such as religious festivals, royal occasions, and entertainment. Yoruba traditional music focuses on Yoruba deities. Drums and singing are the main elements of Yoruba music. (2013)

Juju music emerged in the 1920's and is the most well-known form of Yoruba popular contemporary music in Nigeria. Juju has its roots in traditional Yoruba drum based music. Juju is dance music played by large ensembles centered on guitars and drumming. Singing is a major part of Juju music and is inspired by Yoruba poetry, proverbs, praise songs, and the musical character of the language. The culture and music remained the same for decades after colonization and its explorers left Nigeria. The negative legacies...

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King, Stephen; Jensen, Richard,(1995) Bob Marley's "Redemption Song": The rhetoric of reggae and Rastafari Journal of Popular Culture 29.3

Andrew Apter,(1992) Black Critics and Kings: The Hermeneutics of Power in Yoruba Society (Chicago).

Music rebels: dissident music then and now, New Internationalist 359 (Aug 2003): 22. http://newint.org/features/2003/08/05/rebels/

Waterman, Christopher;(1998) Chop and Quench African Arts 31

Scaruffi, P. ( 2005)http://www.scaruffi.com/history/soul.html

Yoruba Culture of Nigeria: Creating Space for an Endangered Species

Oti, Adepeju; Ayeni, Oyebola. (2013) Yoruba Culture of Nigeria: Creating Space for an Endangered Species Cross - Cultural Communication9.4 : 23-29

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