Haruna Ishola

Haruna Ishola Born Unknown Ijebu-Igbo - Died 1983 Was A Nigerian Musician And One Of The Most Popular Artist In The Apala Genre. Apala Is A Musical Genre Originally Derived From The Yoruba People Of Nigeria. It Is A Percussion-Based Style That Developed In The Late 1930s When It Was Used To Wake Worshippers After Fasting During The Islamic Holy Month Of Ramadan. The Rhythms Of Apala Grew More Complex Over Time Influenced By Cuban Music And Eventually Became Quite Popular In Nigeria. Instruments Include A Rattle Sekere Thumb Piano Agidigbo And A Bell Agogô As Well As Two Or Three Talking Drums. Haruna Ishola Is Undoubtedly The Most Well-Known Performer Of Apala In Nigerian History. He Played An Integral Role In The Popularization Of The Genre And Incorporating It Into Fuji Music. Another Popular Apala Musician Was The Late Ayinla Omowura Whose Short-Lived Career Was Remarkable For The Genre. Although Fuji Music Remains The Most Important Form Of Traditional Music Amongst Yorubas In Nigeria Apala Is Still Very Popular Amongst Muslims Of The Yoruba Tribe. Special Mention Must Be Given To Haruna Ishola's Son Musiliu Haruna Ishola Who Is Often Credited With Revitalizing The Apala Genre And Spear-Heading The Apala-Resurgence Of The 2000s. With His 2004 Album Entitled Soyoyo Musiliu Has Succeeded In Bringing Apala Music To A Wider Younger Audience Thus Breathing New Life To The Genre And Keeping The Tradition And His Father's Legacy Alive. He Is Credited With Re-Popularizing A Genre That Was Fast Becoming The Preserve Of Older Muslims Of The Yoruba Tribe. The Success Of His Soyoyo Album Meant That A Younger Often Christian Or Animist Generation Of Yorubas Have Now Demonstrated A Renewed Interest In Apala Music. His Songs Can Often Be Heard On Popular Radio Stations Across Yorubaland. Sources Http //en.Wikipedia.Org/wiki/Haruna_Ishola ------------------
Emotionally-Rich Baritone Vocals Backed By Several Supporting Vocalists And Set To The Percussive Rhythms Of Gangan Talking Drum Agidibgo Lamellaphone Shakers Agogo Bells Akuba Conga-Like Drum And Claves Enabled Haruna Ishola To Become One Of The Most Influential Singers In The History Of Yoruba's Music. Amassing A Ultra-Large Repertoire Of Historic Tales Philosophical Explorations And Songs Of Praise Ishola Was Known For Performing Extremely Lengthy Shows That Ranged From Four To Ten Hours Long. Releasing His Debut Recording "Orimolusi Adeboye The Oba Of Ijebu-Igbo " In 1948 Ishola Remained Prolific Releasing More Than Thirty Albums In His Two Decade-Long Career. His Album Olaki Social Club Released In 1971 Sold More Than Five Million Copies Between 1971 And 1983. Source Http //www.Allmusic.Com/cg/amg.Dll ------------------
In The Decades Leading Up To Nigerian Independence In 1960 Apala Music Developed When Amateur Musicians Would Play To Arouse The Faithful After The Long Fast Of Ramadan. BOrn In The Town Of Ijebu-Igbo Haruna Ishola Began Recording Apala Numbers In About 1955 And Soon Became The Most Popular Artist In The Genre And One Of The Most Respected Praise Singers In Nigeria. Ishola Adapted And Stuck To A Strong Traditionalist Approach Citing Both Yoruba Proverbs And Koranic Scripture In His Songs And Introducing No Western Instruments Into His Musical Lineup. Ishola Would Sit When Performing Surrounded By Two Talking Drummers Shaker And Bell And A Chorus Of Singers. Also Central To His Sound Was The Agidigbo A Hollow Lamellophone Thumb Piano Both Plucked And Struck To Create A Hypnotic Ostinato At The Center Of The Apala Sound. Andy Frankel Who Produced Apala Messenger IndigiDisc 2001 An Excellent Retrospective Of Ishola's Work Lived In Nigeria During The 1980s. He Writes In The CD Liner Notes "Among The Most Memorable Anecdotes Were That Haruna Ishola's Voice Was So Powerful That His Praise Singing Could Kill Its Intended Recipient If Not Provided With Restraint. It Went Without Saying That If You Had To Go Being Done In By The Praises Of This Man Was Not A Bad Option." In 1969 Ishola Started STAR Records Ltd. In Partnership With Juju Music Legend I.K. Dairo. This Was The First African Record Label Owned By Its Artists. Ishola Died In 1983 But His Large Catalog Of Recordings Both On Decca And STAR Ensure That He Will Not Soon Be Forgotten. Source Http //www.Afropop.Org/explore/artist_Info/ID/375/Haruna Ishola/ Another Short Biography On Http //wrldsrv.Blogspot.Com/2008/12/baba-Ngani.Html read less