ROLES OF DRUMMING PATTERNS AND CULTURAL SONGS OF EGUNGUN MASQUERADE FESTIVAL IN OSHODI TOWN, LAGOS STATE

Traditional drumming plays a very prominent role in religious cum cultural and spiritual space of the Yoruba people; just as studies have reported on use of Yoruba traditional drumming in Egungun masquerade cultural performances, but attention has been drawn away from the minority communities such as Oshodi in Lagos State, despite that fact that the community has grown to become a metropolitan areas due to its strategic commercial location within the State. Therefore, this study examined the roles of drumming patterns and cultural songs of Egungun masquerade festival in Oshodi Town in Lagos State. The study adopted Ethnographic research design; conducted through participant-observation and in-depth interview; also data analysis of song lyrics were transcribed and thematically analysed. Findings revealed that necessary cultural preparations are usually, observed to preserve the connections between the Adherents, the ancestral spiritual powers and authorities ahead of the Egungun masquerade festival in Oshodi town; it's hosting promote lots of entertainment musical patterns featuring local musicians with heavy rhythms and traditional instruments. Again, the selected songs are predominantly call and response which depicted cultural significance and preservation of Yoruba musical elements. The study concludes on the important roles of drumming in Egungun masquerade festival in Oshodi-Lagos; underscoring the significance of traditional music in preserving cultural heritage of Yoruba-Egungun masquerade tradition. The study recommend continuous integration of traditional musical instruments and drumming patterns into the contemporary Egungun masquerade performance through collaboration with local musicians and incorporation into formal school music curriculum and documentary.