Agbaji, a community in Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State, is unique politically and traditionally.
Even though it is a
Yoruba-speaking community in the state, like other communities in the
South-West, the village has sets of values that distinguish it from even
the nearest village.
The close-knit ancient
town displays a typical communal co-existence common to a Muslim set-up.
Agbaji strictly observes the tradition of young ones bowing to their
elders in greeting as a show of respect.
But a very unique
feature of the community is the fact that nobody plays drums there. Dogs
are also not permitted to come into the community.
Enquiries made by PUNCH METRO
showed that nobody in the community could trace the origin of the
traditions. The people of the town said it was transferred from one
generation to another and had become a source of pride to them.
According to one of the
elders in the community, Alhaji Abdulraheem Adaara, the prohibition of
drumming in the community dates back to the period of their forefathers.
He said it had a connection with the religious devotion of the
indigenes of Agbaji.
When our correspondent
visited the town on Thursday, Muslim devotees were seen reciting the
Glorious Quran at a mosque in the town.
It was learnt that recitation of the Quran is a major “occupation” of indigenes of the area.
Adaara said Agbaji was noted for its strict adherence to Islamic lifestyle and prominently, recitation of the Quran.
He stated that the
prohibition was meant to ensure that the attentions of Muslim
worshippers and clerics were not diverted by drumming.
Being the hometown of
the Saraki political dynasty, Adaara said even the patriarch of the
family, Olusola Saraki, had never violated the tradition by bringing in
musicians during any celebration.
He added, “As prominent
as he is, Saraki has never gone against this tradition. Any time he is
celebrating his birthday, we usually offer prayers for him here and he
goes elsewhere to organise his party.
“It has become a law and
nobody has ever violated this law. So, I cannot say or even imagine the
consequence of violating the law.”
A more interesting
aspect of the non-drumming culture of the community is that young people
have not only accepted it, they are proud of it.
The community’s mosque was said to be formerly a market but was converted to the mosque to avoid distraction.
Adaara said whenever
residents of the community had celebrations that would involve hiring of
musicians or playing of music, such celebrations are moved away from
the community.
He said dogs too were prohibited from coming into the community because they were seen as defiling animals.
Adaara said, “During the reign of Sheik Musa Al-Waishu, he instructed people not to divert his
attention
while observing spiritual duties such as supplications, and teaching of
the Quran. Also dogs are not allowed to pass in through the community.
Any dog caught is killed.
A member of the community, Mr. Ayo Abdullahi, said he is proud of the tradition and would instil it in his children.
Abdullahi said, “We were
born into the tradition. I am absolutely comfortable with it and I
believe it is a prestige. This cultural or institutional view differs
from what is seen in other areas. We have the duty to protect it.
“Even our friends who
are non-indigines know that they cannot beat drums here. So, they
organise their events in other places, away from here. If I have any
festivity that I want people to drum, I can go to another place and
organise it. I also want my children to adopt the same tradition.”
Also, a young woman, Mrs. Idowu Nasiru, said the traditions had become their lifestyle and they did not see it as unusual.
“We kill dogs that pass
through the community. We also do not beat drum.Any drummer seen here is
immediately sent away. That is how our forefathers used to live. It is
our culture and we have adapted to it,” she said.
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