ESOTERIC INFLUENCE OF DRUMS COMPOSITIONS ON THE ADHERENTS OF EGÚNGÚN FESTIVAL IN ÌNÍṢÀ TOWN

Traditional drumming is a vital emblem of African arts, culture, and heritage. As an ancient medium of communication, it continues to play a key role in festivals that foster identity, community, and ancestral connection. The Egúngún festival is a significant Yorùbá ritual centered on ancestral veneration and cultural preservation. It integrates the proverbial and rhythmic sounds of Bàtá and Dùndún drums with masquerade dances, creating a layered esoteric performance.This study investigates the esoteric influence of drum compositions during the Egúngún festival in Ìníṣà, Òṣun State, Nigeria. While Yorùbá drums are widely studied, limited attention has been paid to their compositional motifs and spiritual impact. Guided by the theory of functionality and sociological insight, the research examines how drumming fulfills ritual and communicative roles, reinforcing spiritual bonds.Through ethnographic and qualitative methods, interviews with drummers and masquerade carriers, and participant observation. The study reveals that drumming transcends entertainment. It induces spiritual possession, sharpens awareness, and connects generations. Drum sequences, rich in proverbs, guide dance movements and invoke ancestral spirits, bridging the physical and spiritual realms.This research highlights the deep spiritual power of drumming in Egúngún festivals, affirming its role in preserving Yorùbá heritage and sustaining indigenous practices amid modernization.