Juwon Announces ÌYÁ ÌYÁ – A Sonic Reimagining of Yoruba Folklore
On May 25, Nigerian composer, performer, and scholar Johnson Oluwajuwon Adenuga, also known as Juwon, will release ÌYÁ ÌYÁ, an eight-track concept album that reimagines a classic Yorùbá folktale through a blend of jazz improvisation, oral tradition, and ambient soundscapes. The album reflects Juwon’s continued exploration of how contemporary musical expression can shape indigenous storytelling practices.
At the center of ÌYÁ ÌYÁ is the tale of Ìjàpá the tortoise and Ajá the dog—a familiar Yorùbá parable that speaks to themes of wit, loyalty, and consequence. Yet Juwon approaches the story less as a fable and more as a living archive, reinterpreting its rhythms and philosophies through a carefully constructed sonic narrative.
Among the album’s compelling pieces is “Èrò Ọjà,” Track 7, which extends the world of the fable into a contemplative soundscape of the Yorùbá marketplace. Featuring subtle percussion, multi-layered vocals, and jazz-influenced harmonic progressions, the track draws on Yorùbá philosophy, which sees the world as a market—where every human being is both a buyer and a seller. It offers a meditative pause in the album’s dramatic structure, emphasizing the idea that every action carries its consequences.
Comments
This post currently has no comments.