Ayanagalu

Ayanagalu is part of an extended family of acrobatic dancers, masqueraders, traditional drummers and praise singers who, for centuries, have passed down their skills and knowledge from generation to generation. The members of masquerade lineage in southwestern Nigeria are known as Oje (masquerade) performers. Oje families of eleegun oje are entertainment masqueraders (also known as agbegijo, alarinjo and apidan). Egungun are ancestral masks representing the revived spirits of dead ancestors. They take the material form of costumes typically made of assembled strips of old, important cloth.

Ayanagalu is part of an extended family of acrobatic dancers, masqueraders, traditional drummers and praise singers who, for centuries, have passed down their skills and knowledge from generation to generation.

The members of masquerade lineage in southwestern Nigeria are known as Oje (masquerade) performers. Oje families of eleegun oje are entertainment masqueraders (also known as agbegijo, alarinjo and apidan). Egungun are ancestral masks representing the revived spirits of dead ancestors. They take the material form of costumes typically made of assembled strips of old, important cloth. Only a member of an Oje family can bear the costume, and only at particular times of the year or for scheduled performances. The performerÆs body should be completely covered, as the egungun is not an earthly human.

AyanagaluÆs percussionists come from a line of traditional drummers who have trained their children for centuries. Bata, the style of music played by these master musicians, is said to originate in Oyo, where the drums became the favorite ensemble of the OyoÆs third king, Sango. After his death, Sango was deified and worshipped as the god of thunder. Bata drums are also played for other deities, including Oya (SangoÆs wife), Osun (goddess of fertility), Obatala (god of creation), and Ogun (god of iron). The ensemble includes four conically-shaped drums called: iyaalu (the leading drum which ôspeaksö Yoruba and rhythmic texts); omele abo (the middle drum which assists the iyaalu in its spoken and rhythmic texts); omele ako and kudi (the smallest drums joined together to provide a constant rhythmic background against which the other drums may improvise). Today bata drummers can add the akuba (a one-headed, cylindrical drum played with the hands) to enrich rhythmic texture.

Lamidi Ayankunle is one of the greatest living bearers of Yoruba knowledge and tradition. A masterful Bata drummer, he is internationally respected and revered as was his father and grandfather before him for his knowledge, charisma and drumming prowess. He is a resident of the small Yoruba town of Erin Osun in Osun State in Nigeria. Working with his extended family (13 houses of drummers from the same lineage) and the same Egungun families they have been aligned with for centuries, Ayanagalu (literally ômay the god of drumming carry you aloftö) Lamidi and his family have become known throughout Nigeria as great masters of the traditions.

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6/10/01: Ayanagalu

Ayanagalu is an authentic performance troupe of acrobatic dancers, masqueraders, traditional drummers and praise singers from Southwestern Nigeria, the ancient region of the Oyo Kingdom.

Ayanagalu

Ayanagalu is an authentic performance troupe of acrobatic dancers, masqueraders, traditional drummers and praise singers from Southwestern Nigeria, the ancient region of the Oyo Kingdom.

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