The Talking Drum

A talking drum is an African instrument known for its hourglass shape. Originating from West Africa, the talking drum is an instrument that can mimic the tone, rhythm, intonation, and stress of human speech. It is called in different names, including Dondo, Tamanin, Lunna, and Dundun, among others. A lot of musicians use the talking drum even today.

10 Beautiful Traditional (Yoruba) Hair Styles

Among the Yorubas of southwestern Nigeria, the head (called ori) is given a very prominent position and particularly in the females, the hair is considered to be the crown of a woman’s beauty. Over the years, the culture-rich Yorubas have come up with various beautiful and dazzling hairstyles.

I will post the rest later in the day if I am chanced but if you want to see all the 55 different Yoruba hairstyles, you can view them here, complete with pictures:

Palm Wine

Palm Wine is obtained from Palm Tree by the process of 'Palm Wine Tapping'. People who tap Palm Wine are specialised individuals called 'Palm Wine Tappers'. A typical 'Palm Wine Tapper' should have a Climbing Rope, a short Cutlass for cutting Palm Fronds, a Tapping Knife, and a small Gallon.

Palm Wine tapping involves cutting off the Palm Fronds to expose the soft tissues at the top of the Palm Tree. The 'Tapping Knife' is used to pierce a hole into the tissue to allow for the exit of the Palm Wine. Specially carved tiny Bamboo, hollow metallic Pipes, or other instruments;

Calabash

The word calabash is derived the French word ‘Calebasse’. Calabash and gourd are often used interchangeably. The calabash is simply the dried hollow shell of a gourd used for household utensils and its among the very first crops that man cultivated.

We know that the gourd was domesticated in Africa over 4,000 years ago.  Nigeria, in particular the area of old Yoruba Empire, is a center for traditional gourd use and art. Calabash  fruit is a creeping/climbing plant which grows easily in almost every part of Nigeria. The  fruits  are regular in shape. It is in many sizes which determines its uses. Calabashes are mostly round.

Adire Textile

Adire (Yoruba — tie and dye) textile is the indigo dyed cloth made in south western Nigeria by Yoruba women, using a variety of resist dye techniques.

King Sunny Ade

Background

Adé was born to a Nigerian royal family in Ondo, thus making him an Omoba of the Yoruba people.

His father was a church organist, while his mother was a trader. Adé left grammar school in Ondo under the pretense of going to the University of Lagos. There, in Lagos, his mercurial musical career started.

Sunny Adé's musical sound has evolved from the early days. His career began with Moses Olaiya's Federal Rhythm Dandies, a highlife band. He left to form a new band, The Green Spots, in 1967.

Jonathan “Mavua” Lessor

Jonathan “Mavua” Lessor ( born on 26 November, 1960 ) hails from Warri, Delta State, Nigeria. He had his early education in Warri, Delta State. In 1986, he obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND), Upper Credit, in painting  at Auchi Polytechnic and did his National Youth Service at the Federal College of Education, Abeokuta from 1986-1987.

DELE JEGEDE, PH.D.; M.A.(ART HISTORY); B.A. (FINE ART)

 Dr. dele jegede earned his Ph.D. degree in Art History at Indiana University, Bloomington, where he studied with Roy Sieber (1923-2001). He obtained his first degree in Fine Art from the Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria. Since the seventies, he has taught in diverse environments and served in academic, professional, and leadership capacities locally and internationally.