Ajisari
Encyclopedia
An ajisari is one who arouses others to pray and feast during Ramadan
. He goes from house to house, as early as 2:00 AM, beating his kettle drum with a stick and singing (screaming) at the top of his voice. This is purely a religious duty; it is voluntary. Although the ajisari does not expect to be compensated by his fellow believers, he believes that Allah
will reward him, in the hereafter, for forsaking his bed and discomforting himself during the month-long fasting
period.
The name derives from the Arabic word "Suhur," meaning early morning meals during the holy month of Ramadan
; it's spelled and pronounced "sari" in Yoruba
.
An ajisari is fearless because he believes Allah
will protect him for doing HIS (Allah
's) work. The ajisari practically works alone, which explains why he's sometimes been called "Lone Ranger." So, unlike were music
, it's rare to see a group of ajisari. In the late 1970s; however, one group in Ibadan
, Taiwo-Kehinde Ajisari, The Twin Brothers' Ajisari Group, violated that exclusivity when they suddenly emerged from nowhere.
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
. He goes from house to house, as early as 2:00 AM, beating his kettle drum with a stick and singing (screaming) at the top of his voice. This is purely a religious duty; it is voluntary. Although the ajisari does not expect to be compensated by his fellow believers, he believes that Allah
Allah
Allah is a word for God used in the context of Islam. In Arabic, the word means simply "God". It is used primarily by Muslims and Bahá'ís, and often, albeit not exclusively, used by Arabic-speaking Eastern Catholic Christians, Maltese Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Mizrahi Jews and...
will reward him, in the hereafter, for forsaking his bed and discomforting himself during the month-long fasting
Fasting
Fasting is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time. An absolute fast is normally defined as abstinence from all food and liquid for a defined period, usually a single day , or several days. Other fasts may be only partially restrictive,...
period.
The name derives from the Arabic word "Suhur," meaning early morning meals during the holy month of Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
; it's spelled and pronounced "sari" in Yoruba
Yoruba language
Yorùbá is a Niger–Congo language spoken in West Africa by approximately 20 million speakers. The native tongue of the Yoruba people, it is spoken, among other languages, in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo and in communities in other parts of Africa, Europe and the Americas...
.
An ajisari is fearless because he believes Allah
Allah
Allah is a word for God used in the context of Islam. In Arabic, the word means simply "God". It is used primarily by Muslims and Bahá'ís, and often, albeit not exclusively, used by Arabic-speaking Eastern Catholic Christians, Maltese Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Mizrahi Jews and...
will protect him for doing HIS (Allah
Allah
Allah is a word for God used in the context of Islam. In Arabic, the word means simply "God". It is used primarily by Muslims and Bahá'ís, and often, albeit not exclusively, used by Arabic-speaking Eastern Catholic Christians, Maltese Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Mizrahi Jews and...
's) work. The ajisari practically works alone, which explains why he's sometimes been called "Lone Ranger." So, unlike were music
Were music
Were music is an indigenous Yoruba music, which, like ajisari, is a way of using music to arouse the Islamic faithful to pray and feast during Ramadan festival in Yorubaland. Ajiwere or oniwere means "one who performs were music."...
, it's rare to see a group of ajisari. In the late 1970s; however, one group in Ibadan
Ibadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
, Taiwo-Kehinde Ajisari, The Twin Brothers' Ajisari Group, violated that exclusivity when they suddenly emerged from nowhere.