While going about my daily activities, I came across a "sekere" along with other Yoruba cultural instruments beautifully displayed in a shop for sale. As usual I brought out my phone and captured it, but I am curious, I wanted to learn more about it.
As I was sitting in my shop this evening, a friend stopped by to spend
some time with me. Being a Yoruba man, l showed him the pictures I took and I told him that I want to learn more about sekere in particular. He shared some information about the instrument, it's cultural significance and how it is used. So I decided to put together what I learned and share it with my friends in this beautiful community.
Sekere is a traditional musical instrument deeply rooted in the culture and heritage of the Yoruba people of Southwestern Nigeria. Sekere is typically made from a dried gourd covered with a net of beads and sometimes with cowries. It represents rhythm, joy, and togetherness, making it an essential part of Yoruba social and spiritual life.
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History has it that sekere is believed to have been widely used in Oyo-Ila, an ancient and powerful Yoruba Kingdom known for its deep rooted culture.
Sekere, when shaken, twisted, or struck, it produces a rich, rattling sound that can vary in tone and intensity depending on how it is played. It creates a complex rhythm that complement singing, drumming and dancing.
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In Yoruba tradition, the sekere is strongly associated with happiness, celebration, and positive energy. It is played during joyful occasions like naming ceremonies, traditional weddings, festivals and other cultural events. In some churches, expecially those that incorporates indigenous music styles, the sekere is also used to enhance their praise and worship service. There's a well known Yoruba adage that says the sekere is not played in times of sorrow or morning, just to emphasize the deep connection it has with joy and celebrations.
During the transatlantic slave trade, many Yoruba people were taken to places like Brazil and Cuba. Despite the hardship and displacement they faced, they carried their cultural practices with them, including the use of their sekere. And this instrument influenced musical traditions in these regions, contributing to the development of Afro Brazilian and Afro-Cuba music. Today, we can still find similar instruments in some communities in Cuba and Brazil curtsey of the transatlantic slavery.
In this our modern times, the sekere continues to play a significant role in Nigeria music. It is a key instruments in Afrobeat, Juju, and Apala music.
Sekere is not just a musical instrument, it is a symbol of identity, history and joy in Yoruba culture. Starting from ancient Oyo-Ile to modern music, sekere remains an essential part of Yoruba social and spiritual life.
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