Sixteenth International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities

Abstract

Music, to the Yoruba people of Nigeria, is an essential part of everyday activity. Over a thousand music types have been identified among the Yoruba. However, out of this, a few types have come to be accepted widely across Yoruba land, and beyond. These types which include jùjú, fújì, àpàlà, sákárà, wákà, and wéré have been accepted as popular music. Research has shown that the urbanization of many Yoruba cities is a contributory factor to the rise of these musical types to the level of popular music. This paper shows that the urbanization of Yoruba cities is responsible for the emergence of what we now regard as Yoruba popular music; they were to satisfy the entertainment needs of an emerging elite group, which had to adopt new ways of life, due to the advent of colonialism. The paper will also show that the exponents of the popular music types have also been witnesses to the dynamics and the challenges of urbanization in Lagos. The musicians assumed the position of the eyes and memory of the people. We shall discuss the comments of Yoruba popular musicians on the various challenges facing Lagos, due to rapid and uncontrolled urbanization. Such challenges include housing, transportation, electricity, crime and security, provision of water, flooding, education, provision of gainful employment, the environment, and waste disposal.