Were music
Encyclopedia
Were music is an indigenous Yoruba music
, which, like ajisari
, is a way of using music
to arouse the Islamic faithful to pray and feast during Ramadan
festival in Yorubaland. Ajiwere or oniwere means "one who performs were music."
Unlike ajisari
, were is performed in groups. Usually young men or boys, numbering up to ten or more, come together to write songs and practise dance moves. Again unlike ajisari
, who sleep a bit and only come out at 2:00 in the morning, the "ajiwere" or "oniwere" leave their homes each night shortly after the Isha'a
(8:00 PM) and Tarawih
prayers. They'll then roam the streets singing and dancing till about 4:00 AM when they disperse to go prepare for that day's fasting. A couple of days before the end of Ramadan
, all of the "ajiwere" or "oniwere" groups in the area meet in a townhall to compete for prizes—the grand prize is a shiny silver-plated trophy. However, those contests sometimes turn sour, given the unpredictable nature of sore losers.
In early 1970s, were music genre became popular and forced its way into the mainstream Yoruba
culture alongside other popular genres like sakara
, apala
, waka music
, sekere
and etc. The music was popularized by certain Ibadan
singers/songwriters such as, the late Alhaji Dauda Epo-Akara
, Ganiyu Kuti or Gani Irefin, and their Lagos
counterparts led by Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister. The were singers started playing at parties and concerts in both Ibadan
and Lagos
. Ultimately, Alhaji Dauda Epo-Akara
started producing some hit SP and LP records. Although Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister was already popular in Lagos
, but it was Alhaji Dauda Epo-Akara
who introduced him to the very important Ibadan
music lovers on one of his popular LPs, which he used to pay a professional homage to the influential record marketers of Ogunpa district in Ibadan
. Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister would later create another musical genre called Fuji music
, which was an offshoot of were music.
Yoruba music
The music of the Yoruba people of Nigeria is best known for an extremely advanced drumming tradition, especially using the dundun hourglass tension drums. Yoruba folk music became perhaps the most prominent kind of West African music in Afro-Latin and Caribbean musical styles...
, which, like ajisari
Ajisari
An ajisari is one who arouses others to pray and feast during Ramadan. He goes from house to house, as early as 2:00 AM, beating his kettle drum with a stick and singing at the top of his voice. This is purely a religious duty; it is voluntary...
, is a way of using music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
to arouse the Islamic faithful to pray and feast during Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
festival in Yorubaland. Ajiwere or oniwere means "one who performs were music."
Unlike ajisari
Ajisari
An ajisari is one who arouses others to pray and feast during Ramadan. He goes from house to house, as early as 2:00 AM, beating his kettle drum with a stick and singing at the top of his voice. This is purely a religious duty; it is voluntary...
, were is performed in groups. Usually young men or boys, numbering up to ten or more, come together to write songs and practise dance moves. Again unlike ajisari
Ajisari
An ajisari is one who arouses others to pray and feast during Ramadan. He goes from house to house, as early as 2:00 AM, beating his kettle drum with a stick and singing at the top of his voice. This is purely a religious duty; it is voluntary...
, who sleep a bit and only come out at 2:00 in the morning, the "ajiwere" or "oniwere" leave their homes each night shortly after the Isha'a
Isha'a
The Isha prayer is the night-time daily prayer recited by practising Muslims. It is the fifth of the five daily prayers– [islamic evening begins at maghrib]. The five daily prayers collectively are one pillar of the Five Pillars of Islam, in Sunni Islam, and one of the ten Practices of the...
(8:00 PM) and Tarawih
Tarawih
Tarawih refers to extra congregational prayers performed by Muslims at night in the Islamic month of Ramadan. They are not compulsory; however, many Muslims pray these prayers in the night during Ramadan...
prayers. They'll then roam the streets singing and dancing till about 4:00 AM when they disperse to go prepare for that day's fasting. A couple of days before the end of Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
, all of the "ajiwere" or "oniwere" groups in the area meet in a townhall to compete for prizes—the grand prize is a shiny silver-plated trophy. However, those contests sometimes turn sour, given the unpredictable nature of sore losers.
In early 1970s, were music genre became popular and forced its way into the mainstream Yoruba
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
culture alongside other popular genres like sakara
Sakara music
Sakara music is a form of popular Nigerian music based in the traditions of Yoruba music.It is a Moslem-influenced style, mostly in the form of praise songs, that uses only traditional Yoruba instruments such as the solemn-sounding Goje violin, and the small round Sakara drum, which is similar to a...
, apala
Apala
Apala is a musical genre, originally derived from the Yoruba people of Nigeria.It is a percussion-based style that developed in the late 1930s, when it was used to wake worshippers after fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan...
, waka music
Waka music
Waka music is a popular Islamic-oriented Yoruba musical genre. It was made popular by Alhaja Batile Alake from Ijebu, who took the genre into the mainstream Nigerian music by playing it at concerts and parties; also, she was the first waka singer to record an album. Later, younger singers like...
, sekere
Sekere
This article is about the musical genre. For the musical instrument, see Shekere.Sekere is a type of traditional Yoruba musical genre that was pioneered and popularized by the one and only "king of sekere," the late Alhaji Alamu Atatalo from Ibadan, Nigeria...
and etc. The music was popularized by certain Ibadan
Ibadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
singers/songwriters such as, the late Alhaji Dauda Epo-Akara
Alhaji Dauda Epo-Akara
Dauda Akanmu Epo-Akara , a Yoruba musician from the historical city of Ibadan, was the main force behind the popular Yoruba music genre called were music. He started producing SP and LP records under Saliu Adetunji's Omo Aje Records label in Lagos...
, Ganiyu Kuti or Gani Irefin, and their Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
counterparts led by Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister. The were singers started playing at parties and concerts in both Ibadan
Ibadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
and Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
. Ultimately, Alhaji Dauda Epo-Akara
Alhaji Dauda Epo-Akara
Dauda Akanmu Epo-Akara , a Yoruba musician from the historical city of Ibadan, was the main force behind the popular Yoruba music genre called were music. He started producing SP and LP records under Saliu Adetunji's Omo Aje Records label in Lagos...
started producing some hit SP and LP records. Although Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister was already popular in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, but it was Alhaji Dauda Epo-Akara
Alhaji Dauda Epo-Akara
Dauda Akanmu Epo-Akara , a Yoruba musician from the historical city of Ibadan, was the main force behind the popular Yoruba music genre called were music. He started producing SP and LP records under Saliu Adetunji's Omo Aje Records label in Lagos...
who introduced him to the very important Ibadan
Ibadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
music lovers on one of his popular LPs, which he used to pay a professional homage to the influential record marketers of Ogunpa district in Ibadan
Ibadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
. Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister would later create another musical genre called Fuji music
Fuji music
Fuji is a popular Nigerian musical genre. It arose from the improvisation Ajisari/were music tradition, which is a kind of music performed to wake muslims before dawn during the Ramadan fasting season...
, which was an offshoot of were music.