THE SOCIAL RELEVANCE OF ENTERTAINMENT MUSIC IN AWORI COMMUNITY: A CASE STUDY OF AGASA MUSIC IN AWORILAND

Abstract

The emergence and proliferation of entertainment musical genres in Nigeria have generated scholarly discourse over the years in historical, stylistics and analytical terms. The past decades have witnessed increasingly emerging musical genres, with the older forms struggling to remain relevant in the popular music scene. However, one unique popular entertainment music genre that has remained relevant over the years among the local populace is Agasa Music. Due to its relatively small output in comparison with other popular music genres in the region, Agasa entertainment music (like other traditional entertainment music genres) is hugely under-represented in historical and analytical studies of African popular music as a whole. This paper therefore examines the Agasa traditional entertainment music in Awori settlements in Lagos State of Nigeria as a musical genre in the grassroots. Through an interpretive lens, the paper will also identify specific themes, messages, and linguistic features pertaining to the lyrics. Ultimately, the paper will trace how the exponents of these genres in the Awori area have contributed immensely to the development and sustainability over the years in spite of obvious threats to its extinction as a result of urban influences.