THE ÒSÀRÁ ENIGMA: AN IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF MUSICAL STRUCTURE OF ILE-IFE’S IMMATERIAL HERITAGE

Abstract

Òsàrà music, a fundamental cultural heritage of Ile-Ife's cultural legacy, remains insufficiently studied. This study analyses the musical composition of Òsàrà festival music, focusing on its rhythmic patterns, melodic contours, and harmonic structures. This study utilises a mixed-methods approach that combines ethnographic fieldwork and audio recordings, employing the Musical Phrase Structure theory proposed by Lerdahl and Jackendoff in 1983 to clarify the intricate relationships among the musical elements of Òsàrà. The results indicated that Òsàrà music incorporates intricate polyrhythms, comprising 3-4 simultaneous rhythmic patterns. Melodies generally adhere to a pentatonic, hexatonic, or tritonic scale. Harmonic movement is frequently governed by rhythmic patterns. Òsàrà music emphasises Yoruba traditional values, including community and spirituality, with lyrics frequently referencing mythological figures and ancestor veneration. Òsàrà Music functions as a medium for cultural transmission and identity formation. The study suggests that Òsàrà music demonstrates a unique blend of African and African diasporic musical influences. Rhythmic complexity and melodic ornamentation are essential characteristics of Òsàrà music. The musical composition embodies Yoruba cultural principles and mythological narratives. This research aids in the documenting and preservation of Òsàrà music, while the study offers a foundation for evaluating other traditional Yoruba musical genres.