AYANOLUWA: The Story of UNILORIN Undergraduate Talking Drummer

The talking drum was used in the olden days as a means of communication between tribes.

The drum, because of its ability to mimic the spoken word effectively relayed long distance messages of coronations, deaths, celebration and war.

It was also used for entertainment, praise singing, fun, folklore and leisure

Hourglass-shaped talking drums are some of the oldest instruments used by West African griots and their history can be traced back to the Bono people, Yoruba people, the Ghana Empire and the Hausa people. But as a result of this capability, the dùndún drums of the Yorùbá people are popularly known as “talking drums”, the communicative capability has made it soar above other drums.

With time however, the talking drum is moving and adapting from core communication to entertainment and also breaking boundaries.

Recently, The Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), has joined the league of cultural enthusiasts and aficionados across the world to certify the forthcoming Drum (Agalu-Agalu) Festival to be held in Canada on Friday, July 28th at Fuzion Banquet Hall, 1300 Britannia Road E, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

It has also become a phenomenon, breaking the gender glass and barrier. The likes of Ara Talking Drummer, who light up the inauguration dinner for President Tinubu on MAY 29 has been a shining star for years. Others are toeing her path.

The latest addition is IyanuOluwa Taiwo Abifarin, (AyanOluwa) born in Lagos, but with her roots in Ekan Meje, an Ekiti speaking town of Kwara in North Central Nigeria.

She was born a twin and her birth was wonderful. She was name Wonders of God. (IyanuOluwa Taiwo). Her late grandfather was not only talking drummer, but a versatile man of Arts and Sculpture.

Shortly before her grandfather died, the man had been agonizing secretly that none of his children and grandchildren was showing any interest in the arts or drumming.

Then Iyanu and her father visited Ibadan to greet the grandfather. In his sitting room, were talking drums of various sizes hung and Iyanu indicated interest in the small one. Her request was granted immediately and she brought the drum to Lagos and hung it as a memento in the sitting room.

The grandfather died shortly after, while Taiwo was still contemplating on what to actually do with the drum.

“One day I saw grandpa in my dream, he came to our house with his own drum and asked me to carry my drum and we started beating the drum and a large crowd of people of all races emerged and started dancing and expressing great joy.

I woke up that morning with a fresh anointing and inspiration to beat the talking drum. I told my daddy and we look for a drummer near-by to freshen me up a bit….and that was a all, ” Iyanu said.

Since then, there has been no looking back for the star girl who started gradually with her Church at the CAC, Agbala Itura, Sngo-Ota, Ogun State, where she worships with her parents.

The star has not dimmed after she gained admission into the University of Ilorin two years ago.

In fact, the star was quickly spotted by the “wise men and Shepherds” in the Word Sanctuary Church where she worships in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. And she has not looked back since then. The talent has been blazing in and outside the Sanctuary.

According to her: “I really thank God for His grace and favour on me. I am still work in progress, because I am actually a clay in the hands of the Potter. In pray to shine and be great like the greats drummers before me. I am Iyanuoluwa. I am also AyanOluwa, and I want to use my talents to the glory of God and Humanity. So help me God,”