A socio-musical analysis of Ayo Bankole’s choral music: Fun Mi N’ibeji

Abstract

The documentation of folk music in Nigeria has been an on-going process by Art music composers and has received quite an impressive attention although mostly in a uni-directional aspect; through their musical analysis. The socio-musical analysis, which captures what African music means to its people is however rarely delved into. This paper hopes to fill this gap through the analysis of Fun Mi N’Ibeji (Give Me Twins), a vocal music composition by Ayo Bankole (1935-1976). The study employed the use of score reading and bibliography as its methodology. Data collected were transcribed and analysed within the ethnomusicological framework. The results showed that although Ayo Bankole employed the Western four voice parts (soprano, alto, tenor and bass), diverse African elements and major features of African music are present in the melody, rhythm and harmony of the vocal work. The paper concluded that Fun Mi N’Ibeji contained both elements of traditional Nigerian music and Western classical music which are employed in expressing the traditional beliefs of the Yoruba ethnic group.

Keywords: folk music, art music, vocal music, Ayo Bankole, ethnomusicology