Yorùbá bàtá goes global : artists, culture brokers, and fans

Responding to growing international interest in the Yorùbá culture of southwestern Nigeria, practitioners of bàtá—a centuries-old drumming, dancing, and singing tradition—have recast themselves as traditional performers in a global market. As the Nigerian market for ritual bàtá has been declining, international opportunities for performance have grown. Debra L. Klein’s lively ethnography explores this disjunction, revealing the world of bàtá artists and the global culture market that helps to sustain their art. Yorùbá Bàtá Goes Global describes the dramatic changes and reinventions of traditional bàtá performance in recent years, showing how they are continually recreated, performed, and sold. Klein delves into the lives of Yorùbá musicians, focusing on their strategic collaborations with artists, culture brokers, researchers, and entrepreneurs worldwide. And she explores how reinvigorated performing ensembles are beginning to parlay success on the world stage into increased power and status within Nigeria. Klein’s study of the interwoven roles of innovation and tradition will interest scholars of African, global, and cultural studies, anthropology, and ethnomusicology alike. Responding to growing international interest in Yorùbá culture, practitioners of bàtá performance - a centuries-old drumming, dancing, and singing tradition from southwestern Nigeria - have presented themselves to the world as an emblem of traditional Nigeria. Locally, however, the market for bàtá has been declining as it plays less of a ritual role and opportunities for performance have dwindled. Debra L. Klein's lively ethnography explores this disjunction, in the process revealing the world of the bàtá artists and the global culture market that helps to sustain their art. Yorùbá Bàtá Goes Global describes the dramatic changes and reinventions of traditional bàtá performance in recent years, showing how they are continually recreated, performed, and sold. Klein delves into the lives of Yorùbá musicians, focusing on their strategic collaborations with artists, culture brokers, researchers, and entrepreneurs worldwide, and she explores how reinvigorated performing ensembles are beginning to parlay success on the world stage into increased power and status within Nigeria. Klein's study of the interwoven roles of innovation and tradition will interest scholars of anthropology; African, global, and cultural studies; and ethnomusicology alike Yoruba bata goes global 1 Contents 7 List of Figures 9 Acknowledgments 11 Introduction: Reality 15 The Making of a Yoruba Culture Movement 37 Lamidi Ayankunlé: Father of Foreign Lands 63 Sculpting Osogbo: Strategic Collaborations among Yoruba Artists and Three Germanic Culture Brokers 94 Managing the Gap between Local and Global Stakes in Yoruba Tradition 118 Pop Tradition: I Am Always Me 135 Antipolitics of Collaboration 165 Conclusion: Transgressing Reality 201 Appendix: Program, 2004 AyanAgalt performance, Vassar College 207 Notes 213 Glossary 227 Bibliography 231 Formal Interviews and Praise Song Recordings 243 Index 245 Introduction : Reality -- The Making Of A Yorùbá Culture Movement -- Làmídì Àyánkúnlé : Father Of Foreign Lands -- Sculpting Òṣogbo : Strategic Collaborations Among Yorùbá Artists And Three Germanic Culture Brokers -- Managing The Gap Between Local And Global Stakes In Yorùbá Tradition -- Pop Tradition : I Am Always Me -- Antipolitics Of Collaboration -- Conclusion: Transgressing Reality. Debra L. Klein. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 195-206) And Index.