Abstract:
This paper attempted to establish some links between traditional Yorùbá
instrumental music and instrumentation or performance with proverbs.
Eleven Yorùbá proverbs that reflect either vocal or instrumental
performance were collected, categorized and analysed according to
their respective functionalities among members of this ethnic group. The
analyses revealed that, among other things, Yorùbá proverbs could be
used to emphasise the importance of collaboration of music with other
performing arts, express a relationship between the musical instrument
combination and the concept of family co-existence, uphold the use
of musical instruments as a communicative and panegyric tool, and
emphasize the universality of Yorùbá aesthetic value on speech and music.
