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Stakeholders highlight importance of music and culture

By Editor
11 March 2017   |   1:47 am
Stakeholders in the music and entertainment industry have highlighted the vital connection between music, entertainment and culture.

PHOTO: National Infinity

Stakeholders in the music and entertainment industry have highlighted the vital connection between music, entertainment and culture. This was made known at the first ever roundtable on Yoruba music, Ariya Repete, convened at the Lagos Airport Hotel by Goldberg lager beer, a staple form Nigerian Breweries Plc.

The roundtable discourse, attracted stakeholders from traditional institutions, the academia, entertainment industry and the media to provide informed thoughts on sustaining and promoting the rich heritage of Fuji and Juju music. The stakeholders commended Goldberg lager beer for the initiative, which they say, signals a cultural rejuvenation among Yorubas

In his keynote address, which focused on Juju and Fuji genres of music, former Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), Professor Tunde Babawale, explained that the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba provided the foundation on which the music genres are built.

Babawale 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 him, the music of the culture, especially 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.

Frontline fuji musician, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (K1 De Ultimate), while thanking the organisers and speakers, described the event as an educative initiative meant to preserve fuji and juju, vital aspects of the music and culture of the Yorubas.

Afrojuju exponent, Sir Shina Peters, also commended Goldberg for providing such a platform to discuss indigenous music and called on other corporate organisations to emulate the effort.

Faaji FM broadcaster, Ambrose Somide, a panellist at the roundtable, enjoined young musicians of Yoruba extraction to endeavour to sustain the genres for the promotion of the Yoruba culture.

Meanwhile, welcoming guests to the forum, Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries, Kufre Ekanem, 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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