Josiah Ransome-Kuti
| Josiah Ransome-Kuti | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Josiah Jesse Ransome-Kuti June 1, 1855 Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria |
| Died | September 4, 1930 (aged 75) |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Occupation | |
| Years active | 1871–1930 |
| Religion | Christian |
| Spouse(s) | Bertha Anny Erinade Olubi (m. 1882) |
| Children |
3
|
| Parent(s) | Likoye Kuti, Ekidan Efupeyin |
Josiah Jesse Ransome-Kuti (June 1, 1855 – September 4, 1930) was a Nigerian clergyman and music composer.[1] He was known for setting Christian hymns to indigenous music,[2] and for writing Christian hymns in Yoruba.
Life
Born on June 1, 1855 in Igbein, Abeokuta, Ogun State to an Egba family, Josiah was baptized in 1859. He enrolled as a student into the Church Missionary Society Training Institution, Abeokuta before proceeding to the Church Missionary Society Training Institute, Lagos in 1871.[3]
Shortly after completing his education at the Church Missionary Society Training Institute, Lagos, Josiah was employed as a teacher at St. Peter's School, Ake, Abeokuta and then left to teach music at the CMS Girls School, Lagos in 1879 where he met his wife Bertha Anny Erinade Olubi.[3] In 1891, he was made catechist at the Gbagura Church Parsonage, Abeokuta before he founded Gbagura Church, a local church where he converted people to the Christian faith through his versatility in rendering English gospel hymns into indigenous gospel songs.[3][4]
He became a deacon in 1895, ordained a priest in 1897 and was appointed district judge from 1902 to 1906.[3] In 1911, Josiah was appointed pastor of St. Peter's Cathedral Church, Ake after previously serving as superintendent of the Abeokuta Church Mission.[5]
In 1922, he was made canon of the Cathedral Church of Christ, Lagos and in 1925, he became the first Nigerian to release a record album after he recorded several Yoruba language hymns in gramophone through Zonophone Records.[1][6]
Bibliography
- Joseph Oguntade (1986). Canon Josiah Jesse Ransome-Kuti: A Short Biography. Gbemi Sodipo Press Limited. ISBN 978-978-183-004-4.
References
- 1 2 Ádébáyò Ádésóyè (25 March 2015). Scientific Pilgrimage: 'The Life and times of Emeritus Professor V.A Oyenuga'. D.Sc, FAS, CFR Nigeria’s first Emeritus Professor and Africa’s first Agriculture Professor. AuthorHouse. pp. 75–. ISBN 978-1-5049-3785-6.
- ↑ Cheryl Johnson-Odim; Nina Emma Mba (1997). For Women and the Nation: Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti of Nigeria. University of Illinois Press. pp. 32–. ISBN 978-0-252-06613-9.
- 1 2 3 4 "Ransome-Kuti, Josiah Jesse". Dictionary of African Christian Biography. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
- ↑ Raph Uwechue; Africa Books Limited (1991). Makers of Modern Africa. Africa Journal Limited.
- ↑ H. Zell, C. H. Bundy and V. Coulon (eds.), A New Reader's Guide to African Literature, rev. ed., (London : Heinemann, 1983)
- ↑ Sansom, Ian (11 December 2015). "Great Dynasties: The Ransome-Kutis". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 March 2016.