SYMBOLISM IN YORÙBÁ INSTRUMENTAL METRICAL FRAMEWORK AS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION ARTS

Abstract

Symbolism is a representation that stands for an idea, object, feeling, and or a ‘thing’; hence, musical symbolism is a representation that stands for musical sound and its properties. Several scholarships have been conducted on musical symbolism, however, few studies have been devoted to symbolism in Yorùbá musical instrumental metrical frameworks. Against this backdrop, this study examined the symbolism in Yorùbá instrumental metrical framework as information dissemination arts. Adopted ethnographic methods include participant observations, interviews, and music textual analysis. Secondary data were sourced through libraries and the internet. Based on symbolic reference theory this study scrutinized various elements in the Yorùbá instrumental metric patterns that unify, produce, and transmit several messages to the public in symbolic forms. Chronicles are the effectiveness of symbols in Yoruba instrumental metrical frameworks as information dissemination arts; in town hall meetings, hunters’ signals to locate missing hunter(s) in the forest, sounds of talking drums as symbolic palace messages and invitation(s) to traditional rulers’ special nocturnal meetings. The paper concludes with the various advantages derived from ‘symbolism’ and posits for more in-depth study of symbolism in Yorùbá traditional music making.