Fẹlá Ṣówándé

Olóyè Olúfẹlá Ọbáfúnmiláyọ̀  tàbí "Fẹlá" Ṣówándé MBE tí wọ́n bí ní ọjọ́ọ́ kọkàndínlọ́gbọ̀n osù Karùn-ún ọdún 1905, tí ó sì papò da ní ọjọ́ Kẹtàlá oṣù Kẹta ọdún 1987. Olúfẹlá jẹ́ akọri àti olórin ọmọ orílẹ̀-èdè Nàìjíríà. Wọ́n fìdí rẹ̀ múlẹ̀ẹ̀ wípé Fẹlá jẹ́ ọ̀kan lara àwọn olórin ìgbàlódé ní orílẹ̀-èdè Nàìjíríà. Wọ́n mọ fẹlá pẹ̀lú ìṣọwọ́ kọ orin rẹ̀ jákè-jádò àgbáyé, pàá pàá jùlọ ní ilẹ̀ Europe, wọ́n gbà fun pẹ́lú ọnà orin Classic' rẹ̀. Oun sì ni wọ́n mú gẹ́gẹ́ bí ẹni tí ó Mọ orin í ke jùlọ ní gbogbo ilẹ̀ Adúláwọ̀.De Lerma, Dominique-Rene. "African Heritage Symphonic Series". Liner note essay. Cedille Records CDR055.

Ibẹ̀rẹ̀ ayé rẹ̀

Ṣówándé tí wọ́n ma ń àánú pe ní ( 'shoh-WAHN-daye')  ni wọ́n bí ní ìlú Abẹ́òkúta ní Ìpínlẹ̀ Ògùn ni ó jẹ́ ọmọ bíbí inú ọ̀gbẹ́ni Emmaniel Ṣówándé tí ó jẹ́ olùdásílẹ̀ orin ilé-ìjọsìn. Fẹlá gẹ́gẹ́ bí ọmọ olùdásílẹ̀ orin ní inú ilé ìjọsìn "Cathedral Church of Christ" náà jẹ́ ọmọ ẹgbẹ́ akọrin. Ó lọ sí ilé-ẹ̀kọ́ girama C.M.S.  àti ilé-ẹ̀kọ́ King's College.
Ipa Baba rẹ̀ gẹ́gẹ́ bí olórin ati i Dókítà T. K. Ẹkúndayọ̀ Phillips tí ó jẹ́  (akọri, organist ati ọ̀gá akọrin) jẹ́ ohun tí ó ràn ọ́ lówọ́ nínú iṣẹ́ orin nígbà èwe rẹ̀. Lásìkò èwe rẹ̀, Ṣówándé jẹ́ ọ̀gá akọrin, àmọ́ wọ́n kọ bí ó ṣe lè ma fi èdè Yorùbá kọ orin rẹ̀. Lásìkò tí a ń wí yí, Ṣówandé kọ́ bí wọ́n ṣe ń tẹ dùrù ati àwọn irinṣẹ́ orin mìíràn lábẹ́ ọ̀gbẹ́ni Ẹkúdayọ̀ ati àwọn iṣẹ́ orin classic láti orílẹ̀-èdè Europe, ó gba ìwé ẹ̀rí ọmọ ẹgbẹ́ Dípúlómà ti (FRCO) láti ilé-ẹ̀kọ́ Royal College of Organists. Lásìkọ̀ tí a ń wí yí, Ṣówándé ti dá ẹgbẹ́ akọrin tirẹ̀ sílẹ̀ tí wọ́n kọ orin Jazz ayi orin Highlife ìgbàlódé. Gbogbo ìrírí àti ìmọ̀ orin wọ̀nyí ni ó sọ ọ́ di lààmì-laaka nídí iṣẹ́ orin kíkọ nígbà ayé rẹ̀.

Ìgbẹ́ ayé rẹ̀ ní ìlú Lọ́ndọ̀n

Ní ọdún 1934, Ṣówándé lọ sí ìlú London láti lọ kọ́ nípa European classical ati popular music. Lẹ́yìn ọdún méjì tí ó ti dé Lọ́ndọ̀n, ó bẹ̀rẹ̀ sí ń kọ orin "Solo" pẹ̀lú dùrù ní inú George Gershwin's àti Rhapsody in Blue. Ó tún ma ń ta meta pẹ̀lú  Fats Waller, ba kan náà ni ó tún ma ń ta jìtá fún àwọn òṣèré orí ẹ̀rọ asọ̀rọ̀mágbèsì ti BBC. Ó tún jẹ́ ọ̀gá akọrin ní Kingsway Hall àti olùta Dùrù ní inú eré oníṣẹ Blackbirds.ní ọdún 1936. Ó gbé orin tí ó fi dùrù kọ jáde tí ó jẹ́ orin àwọn gbajú-gbajà olórin Adelaide Hall àti Vera Lynn jáde ní ọdún 1939. Lẹ́yìn èyí, ó tu  lọ kọ́ nípa dùrù siwájú si lọwọ́ ọ̀gbẹ́ni Edmund Rubbra, George Oldroyd, àti George Cunningham ó sì di ọ̀kan nínú àwọn ọmọ ẹgbẹ́ Royal College of Organists ní ọdún 1943, nígbà tí ó gb3yẹ mọ́ Limpus, Harding àti Read Prizes lọ́wọ́. 

Lẹ́yìn èyí, ó tún ti gba ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ amì-ẹ̀yẹ pẹ̀lú, ba kan náà ni ó tún kẹ́kọ̀ọ́ gboyè nínú ìmọ̀ orin ní ilé-ẹ̀kọ́ Yunifásitì ìlú London tí ó sì di ọ̀kan lara àwọn ọmọ ẹgbẹ́ Trinity College of Music. Ó ṣiṣẹ́ gẹ́gẹ́ bí olùdámọ̀ràn nípa ọ̀rọ̀ orin fún Colonial Film Unit tí ó wà lábẹ́ ilé iṣẹ́ ètò ìròyìn àti ọ̀rọ̀ òde ní United Kingdom lásìkò  Ogun agbáyé ẹlẹ́kejì, nígbà tí ó kọ orin fún àwọn sinimá adánilẹ́kọ̀ọ́.

Ìròrí ilẹ̀ aláwọ̀ dúdú ati funfun ni ó ń fara hàn jùlọ ní ú orin Fẹlá, lara àwọn ìṣeẹ́ tí a ri lè ri èyí ni  orin Yorùbá Lament, Obangiji,
 Kyrie,
 Gloria,
 Jesu Olugbala, ati
 Oba Aba Ke Pe. 
Àwọn orin wọ̀nyí fi ìmọ̀sí-lára re hàn gẹ́gẹ́ bí ọmọ ilẹ̀ Adúláwọ̀ àti  àti ọmọ ilé ìjọsìn Anglican Church hàn pẹ̀lú ìwọ́hùn orin pentatonic rẹ̀

Lara àwọn iṣẹ́ orchestral rẹ̀ ni:
 Six Sketches for Full Orchestra,
 A Folk Symphony, àti 
 African Suite ìyẹn fún string orchestra.
"Fela Sowande (1905-1987)", African Heritage in Classical Music. "Fela Sowande", PhilPaine.org, 10 September 2006. Fẹlá tún ke orin tí ó pọ̀ ń iye nípa ọnà orin secular ,coral àti cappela. Ó
Púpọ̀ nínú àwọn orin yí ni ó ṣe akọsílẹ̀ rẹ̀ nígbà tí ó ń ṣiṣẹ́ pẹ̀lú BBC. Ó padà sí orílẹ̀-èdè Nàìjíríà tí ó sì ṣiṣẹ́ pẹ̀lú ilé-iṣẹ́ He went back to Nigeria to scholarly work with the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation kí ó tó dara pọ̀ ilé-ẹ̀kọ́ àgbà  Yunifásitì Ìbàdàn. Wọ́n yàn an fún amì-ẹ̀yẹ  MBE ní ọdún 1955 láti fi sàmì ọjọ́ ìbí Ọbabìrin ti ilẹ̀ England fún iṣẹ́ ribiribi rẹ̀ tí ó ti gbé ṣe nílé-iṣẹ́ ìgbóhùnsáfẹ́fẹ́ Nigerian Broadcasting Service. Ó gbe ra lọ sí ilé-ẹ̀kọ́  Howard University ní ìlú Washington, D.C. ní ọdún 1968, kí ó tún tó lọ sí  University of Pittsburgh.

Ìgbé ayé rẹ̀
Ṣówándé ṣe iṣẹ́ olùkọ́ ní ilé-ẹ̀kọ́ Kent State University ní ẹ̀ka ẹ̀kọ́ orin ilé-ẹ̀kọ́ náà, ó ń gbé ní Ravenna,Ohio pẹ̀lú ìyàwó rẹ̀ Eleanor Mackinney ẹni tí ó jẹ́ olùdásílẹ̀ ilé-iṣẹ́ agbòhùn-sáfẹ́fẹ́ Pacific Radio. Ó kú sí ìlú Ravenna, wọ́n sì sin sí Randolph Township ní Ìpínlẹ̀ Ohio. 
Yàtọ̀ sí wípé Fẹlá jẹ́ Ọ̀jọ̀gbọ́ inọ̀ orin, wọ́n fi oyè Bariyo da lọlá ní Ìpínlẹ̀ Èkó. Wọ́n ṣe ìgbésẹ̀ bí wọn  yóò ṣe ṣe da ilé ìwádí inọ̀ orin léte àti mú itẹ̀síwájú bá iṣẹ́ ribiribi tí ó fi sílẹ̀ẹ̀ sáyé, yálà wọ́n ṣì wà lórí igbá ni tàbí wọn kò sí mọ́.

Àwọn àṣàyàn orin tí ó ke sílẹ̀ ni

Èyí tó jẹ mọ́ Dùrù

 1945 – Ká Múra, Chappell, London
 1952 – Pastourelle (for organ), Chappell, London
 1955 – Jésù Olùgbàlà, Chappell, London
 1955 – Joshua Fit de Battle of Jericho, Chappell, London
 1955 – Kyrie, Chappell, London
 1955 – Obangiji, Chappell, London
 1955 – Yorùbá Lament, Chappell, London
 1958 – Òyígíyigì, Ricordi, New York
 1958 – Gloria, Ricordi, New York
 1958 – 'Prayer, Ricordi, New York
 1959 – Responses in 'A’
 KÕa Mo Rokoso
 Ọba Àbá Ké Pè

 Èyí tí ó jẹ mọ́ Choral
 "The Wedding Day" for S.S.A. with piano, 1957, RDH
 "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" for S.A.T.B. a cappella, 1955, Chappell, London
 "My Way's Cloudy" for S.A.T.B. with piano, 1955, Chappell, London
 "De Ol' Ark's a-Moverin" for S.A.T.B.B. a cappella with tenor solo, 1955, Chappell, London
 "Same Train" for S.A.T.B.B. a cappella, 1955, Chappell, London
 "Roll de Ol' Chariot" for S.A.T.B.B. with piano and rhythm combo, 1955, Chappell, London
 "All I d"o for S.A.T.B.B. with piano and rhythm combo, 1961, Ricordi, New York
 "Goin' to Set Down" for S.A.T.B. a cappella with soprano solo, 1961, Ricordi, New York
 "Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray" for S.A.T.B. a cappella with soprano solo, 1958, Ricordi, New York
 "De Angels Are Watchin'" for S.A.T.B. a cappella with soprano and tenor solo, 1958, Ricordi, New York
 "Nobody Knows de Trouble I See" for S.A.TB. a cappella, 1958, Ricordi, New York
 "Wheel, Oh Wheel" for S.A.T.B. a cappella, 1961, Ricordi, New York
 "Wid a Sword in Ma Hand" for S.A.T.B.B. a cappella, 1958, Ricordi, New York
 "Sit Down Servant" for T.T.B.B. a cappella and tenor solo, 1961, Ricordi, New York
 "Out of Zion" for S.A.T.B. with organ, 1955
 "St. Jude's Response" for S.A.T.B. with organ
 "Oh Render Thanks" (hymn-anthem) for S.A.T.B. with organ, 1960
 Nigerian National Anthem (an arrangement) for S.A.T.B. with organ, 1960

Àwọn orin Solo rẹ̀
 Three Songs of Contemplation for tenor and piano, 1950, Chappell, London
 Because of You for voice and piano, 1950, Chappell, London
 Three Yoruba Songs for voice and piano, 1954, Ibadan

 Àwọn orin Orchestral rẹ̀
 Four Sketches for full orchestra, 1953
 African Suite for string orchestra, 1955, Chappell, London
 Folk Symphony for full orchestra, 1960

Àwọn àṣàyàn iwe rẹ̀
 (1964). Ifa: Guide, Counsellor, and Friend of Our Forefathers. Ibadan.
 (1966). The Mind of a Nation: The Yoruba Child. Ibadan: Ibadan University.
 (1968). Come Now Nigeria, Part 1: Nationalism and essays on relevant subjects. Ibadan: Sketch Pub. Co.; sole distributors: Nigerian Book Suppliers. (All the material presented in this book first appeared in the form of articles in the pages of the Daily Sketch, Ibadan.)
 (1975). The Africanization of Black Studies. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Institute for African American Affairs. African American Affairs Monograph Series, v. 2, no. 1.

Àwọn àpilẹ̀kọ rẹ̀ 
 (1971). "Black Folklore", Black Lines: A Journal of Black Studies (special issue: Black Folklore), v. 2, no. 1 (Fall 1971), pp. 5–21.

Àwọn Itọ́kas sí

Ẹ tún lè ka àwọn iwe bíi
Cole, Bill (1976). John Coltrane. Schirmer Books. . Reprinted by Da Capo Press (1993, 2001). .
Sadoh, Godwin (2007). The Organ Works of Fela Sowande: Cultural Perspectives. iUniverse. .

Àwọn Ìtàkùn ìjásóde
A more detailed account of his life
Another Fela Sowande bio
Val Wilmer (on Sowande's relationship with pianist Rita Cann), "Rita Cann – Musical talent lead her to become one of the first visible black women in London society" (obituary), The Guardian, 10 May 2001.
 The Papers of Fela Sowande at Dartmouth College Library

Ẹ̀ka:Àwọn ọjọ́ìbí ní 1905
Ẹ̀ka:Àwọn ọjọ́aláìsí ní 1987
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