Josiah Ransome-Kuti

Josiah Ransome-Kuti
Born Josiah Jesse Ransome-Kuti
(1855-06-01)June 1, 1855
Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
Died September 4, 1930(1930-09-04) (aged 75)
Nationality Nigerian
Ethnicity Egba
Occupation
Years active 1871–1930
Religion Christian
Spouse(s) Bertha Anny Erinade Olubi (m. 1882)
Children
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

References

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Ransome-Kuti, Josiah Jesse". Dictionary of African Christian Biography. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  4. Raph Uwechue; Africa Books Limited (1991). Makers of Modern Africa. Africa Journal Limited.
  5. H. Zell, C. H. Bundy and V. Coulon (eds.), A New Reader's Guide to African Literature, rev. ed., (London : Heinemann, 1983)
  6. Sansom, Ian (11 December 2015). "Great Dynasties: The Ransome-Kutis". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
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