AYOKA FOYEKE AJANGILA
Olórun ní somo
Àyòká Motúnráyò
Olórun ní somo
Ayoka Foyeke Ajangila began her recording career with Decca in Lagos in June 1961. Her musical journey extended from the 1950s through the 1980s.
Hailing from Ibadan, she embarked on a European tour with Hubert Ogunde in 1979. Ajangila marked the safe delivery of her first child by releasing a beautiful album titled “Olórun ní somo”.
Coming from a family deeply rooted in Sango and Egungun traditions, Ajangila’s music, classified as “Pankenke” in the 1970s and 1980s Yoruba musical culture, featured a rich ensemble of data drums.
Today, our knowledge about Ajangila is scant, not because she didn’t leave a significant mark, but because cultural memory and knowledge production have historically favored male voices over women.
Thanks to digital technology, Ajangila’s voice, brimming with energy, elegance, and beauty, still resonates. Her album commemorated the triumph over the struggle with childlessness.
Photo: Source: Nigerian Daily Times, June 3, 1961.
