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 |
| 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. He was known for setting Christian hymns to indigenous music, and for writing Christian hymns in Yoruba.
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.
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. 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.
He became a deacon in 1895, ordained a priest in 1897 and was appointed district judge from 1902 to 1906. In 1911, Josiah was appointed pastor of St. Peter's Cathedral Church, Ake after previously serving as superintendent of the Abeokuta Church Mission.
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.
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