TEXTUAL INTERPRETATION OF INDIGENOUS YORUBA SONGS USED IN WORSHIP IN THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD

Abstract

The use of figures of speech is quite prominent in indigenous music of the Yoruba culture. The same is true of indigenous Yoruba music in the Redeemed Christian Church of God. The ability to use these figures of speech in composition for church worship is an index of the composers’ competence in Yoruba language. This paper is aimed at interpreting the texts of some selected Yoruba songs used during worship in the Redeemed Christian Church of God. This is done with the purpose of identifying and describing various figures of speech in these selected songs. Among the figures of speech that are in frequent use are repetition, metaphor and personification. However, the paper discussed the various categories of indigenous Yoruba songs in the church.