Browsing by Author "Adeola, Kehnde Adedayo"

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    Creative Imagination and the Quest for Peace: Reflections on Nigerian Gospel Music Song Texts
    (The Department of Philosophy and Religions, University of Abuja, 2015) Adeola, Taiye Shola; Adeola, Kehnde Adedayo
    The Nigerian gospel music presents an array of creative imaginations, some of which are directed towards the clamor for peace. Creativity being a product of imagination is given expression in the designs produced by the artist, song writer, composer, poet, playwright, and so on. The thought process is further reflected in the designs exhibited in choice of words, rhyme of words, balance of phrases, patterns of melody, use of harmony, blend of instruments, style of performance and many more. Adopting the cultural hermeneutical, musicological and discographical approaches, this paper examines the music of some Nigerian gospel musicians, analyzing them to bring out patterns of creativity in song texts; issues about their quest for peace and the principles underpinning their compositions. It is also discovered that lack of peace is not only considered in terms of outbreak of war or crisis in a community, state or nation, but also in relation to individual’s well being physically, spiritually and in relation to the nation’s economic, political and religious wellness. It is also discovered that gospel musicians in the context of their existence have evolved certain terminologies for peace or lack of it in Nigerian national life. It is the conclusion of this paper that the Nigerian gospel music is socially relevant and it is a veritable tool for the attainment of the peace being clamored for through creative imagination. It has also helped to create the agenda for the perceived social reconstruction which the grassroots hope for.
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    The Influence of the Social, Political and Economic Realities in Nigeria on Nigerian Gospel Music Song Texts
    (Department of Philosophy and Religions, University of Abuja., 2015) Adeola, Taiye Shola; Adeola, Kehnde Adedayo
    This paper embarks on a content analysis of song texts of selected Nigerian gospel songs to discuss the influence of the social, political and economic realities in Nigeria on them. Gospel music is one of the religious musical types that have developed over the years in Nigeria and it has become popular. It engages various themes and discusses contemporary issues as they find relevance from time to time. The paper adopting the cultural-hermeneutical and textual analysis and discography approaches relies on the reflexivity social theory to discuss the influence of the social, economic and political realities in Nigeria from the 1980s to the present on the song texts of gospel music. The operations of gospel music within the general context of the overall social, economic and political realities of the country subjects the musicians and by extension their music to the influence of the general situation in the country. To a great extent these realities forms part of the contents of their music either as a reaction, suggestion, commentary or prayer for a change. This paper is based on the findings after the content analysis of over fifty gospel songs. It is discovered that many of these gospel songs can be grouped into songs of social concern; songs on economic situations and songs on political situations in Nigeria. The paper concludes that beyond the sole spiritual relevance and focus of gospel music which the musicians claim and project gospel music to serve, gospel music has become a social commodity that influences and is been influenced by the society in which it exists as the content and themes of the songs are greatly influenced by the social, economic and political situations in the country.