Adamo Music And Its Place In History

African traditional music is on the verge of going into extinction, as its acceptance by the present generation is very low and it has been perceived archaic. Nevertheless, African traditional music had undergone transformation and had given birth to the present forms of music, called it, hip hop, reggae, rock and roll etc.

In Yorubaland, music varies from one tribe to the other; Ife and Ijesa are notably known for Adamo, Erege and Osare; the Ekitis have their traditional genre, while Dadakuada and Fuji are common among the Oyo people.

In Ife/Ijesa, Adamo had much prominence as it is more than just a music. It tells the history, culture, religion, values and anthropology of the people, hence it is a common scene at any social function among them, and their women folk sing Osare, eulogising their ancestry and that of their spouse family, while men engage in Adamo.

The late Ijesa icon, Chief Adedara Arihunraloja brings the Adamo into forefront as early as 1940, while late Buraimoh Akanbi (Alawiye) Adewole held sway in Ile-Ife. Adewole hailed from Araba Awo compound, he tutored and mastered the late Chief Durojaiye Aremu who later gives more prominence and recognition to the music genre for over five decades.

Durojaiye Aremu was born to the late Pa Bello Odedoyin of Ogbingbin compound and late Mrs Folorunso Olomide Okerewe Igbodo area Ile-Ife. He grew up in his late paternal grandmother’s house, who hailed from Latale’s compound, Iremo, Ile-Ife.

Before 1958, he had mastered the art of driving and had obtained official commercial driver’s license to drive lorry for the purpose of transporting traders from farms to the town and villages.

The Alajapa which they call women who engage in petty trading like buying farm produce from one village to the other are mainly his clients and his talents came to bear as he always entertain them, while driving them to the villages.

More so, Ile-Ife being a community of highly fun-loving people, “The motorboy” Durojaiye then always get involved in conveying musical instruments to locations on weekend.

In this process, fate peer him up with Buraimoh Akanbi, popularly known as “Omo Orewuni” and he joined him. Eventually, he was caught up singing and drumming under the maestro, which he did till 1966.

In the year 1966, Late chief Durojaiye Aremu was granted freedom by his master, Buraimo and because of his involvement in local “Osirigi” and traditional religious songs “Ewoo”, his other friends, Sunday Kayode, Ademola Adeyefa, Olu Odunlade, Olu Omiyera, Sanmi Egbewole (a.k.a Ogbekuletemu) and the only female among joined Aremu and they all started Durojaiye Band in 1966.

Common in his music were family panegyrics and religious practices, as he never failed to stress family values as epitomised in his album “Oko lade ori aya” among others.

If music had taken its rightful place, perhaps Durojaiye Aremu Olomide would have ranked among the world renown scholars and poets.

To save Ife and Ijesa of its Adamo music from going to extinction, the likes of Oyarekun Oyaro, Latifat Durojaiye, the daughter of the maestro should be encouraged, and many upcomings, such as Arike and her groups should also be encouraged.