Memory Archive through the Substance of Yoruba Musical Culture

Abstract

The context of musical performance in Africa is determined by the general conditions, in which it is performed, as well as the principles, philosophies, and events that inform the compositions. Songs have through the years commemorated significant traditional events, thereby fixing the memory of important incidents in the minds of the audience with lasting effects. These songs are preserved in oral performance traditions, in forms of musical documentation and presentation. The texts of songs often give us more insight into the past than the survivors in the present generation could provide. They sometimes present to us explanations that lead to our understanding of the human creative processes and value judgment in the society as well as provide proof of identity among a people or peoples. Not only so, songs are sources that define social-ritual restrictions of some traditional practices, observances and behaviours, with respect to context of performance and functionality. They therefore are capable of helping us to revalidate the authenticity of certain musical-cultural history that link the  past with the present. This paper thus examines traditional African songs as sources by which research data on indigenous knowledge systems can be obtained and evaluated.