While most books on Yorùbá music focus on a single genre or instrument and betray either a musicological or anthropological bent, Omojola skilfully weaves together a broad range of musical topics, grounding each in rich ethnographic detail and rigorous musical analysis. . . . Although some of the topics are highly specialized, Omojola's book is broadly accessible and makes valuable ... Read morecontributions to scholarship on identity and African music . . . The author's crisp musical analyses and rich ethnographic descriptions give his theoretical arguments a satisfying concreteness. It is this same characteristic that makes the book thoroughly teachable, full of detailed examples ready for comparison with other world traditions. I would highly recommend it for advanced courses in ethnomusicology and musicology, as well for specialists in African music, literature, and history.
Jesse Ruskin [2014 YEARBOOK FOR TRADITIONAL MUSIC] Using a multi-disciplinary methodology that includes musical transcription and analysis, ethnographic field-work, historical research and biography, Omojola's book paints an expansive picture of modern Yoruban musical culture that acknowledges the role of individual as well as group agency . . . Omojola's ability to balance musical information obtained through transcription and analysis with ethnographic data is to be applauded, and serves as an example of the benefits of including information gleaned from both perspectives.
WORLD OF MUSIC
Very detailed, reflecting the author's two decades of research . . . Omojola's writing style is clear, concise, and thoroughly engaging . . . Highly recommended.
CHOICE
A unique and refreshing take on the study of Yorùbá music, grounding a wide range of Yorùbá musical genres in Nigerian history as well as in the experiences of specific ensembles and artists . . . The sheer scope and goals of this project make it exciting.
LEEDS AFRICAN STUDIES BULLETIN
[N]o other book covers the variety of genres and idioms discussed in Yorùbá Music in the Twentieth Century. Professor Omojola's tactical choice of topics yields an in-depth yet broad treatment of the entire field of Yorùbá music. After a sophisticated discussion of 'identity' in the introduction, each chapter provides detailed, culturally insightful coverage of a different facet of this important musical tradition. A well-written, well-researched book of interest to a wide readership.
David Locke, Tufts University Show Less