Igbo Popular Music: A Historical and Sociological Discourse with the Intent of Redefining Its Musical Typologies Since 1960

Abstract

In Nigeria, music making has been the most dynamic and evolving process, involving all forms of musical genres - traditional, religious and popular. Music does have a significant cultural and sociological role, especially among its many ethnic groups, whereby it is employed in every facet of their socio-cultural existence, from childhood to adulthood respectively. This study examines the Igbo popular musical genre in Nigeria through its creative forms (highlife and other hybridized forms), exhibited within the period from 1960 up to the present. The main objective of this study is to capture all musical typologies within the period stipulated and tag them, using socio-cultural parameters, such as language, age, group philosophy, musical form, etc. It adopted descriptive and socio-musicological approaches in evaluating the musical trends through periodized format and also using the socio tagging system as its conceptual framework. The following musical typologies (Égwú Nñùtá, Égwú Ìkwǫkìlìkwǫ, Ēgwū Ọ̀gbàrà-ọ̄fūù, and Égwú A gwàrà ǫgwa) were, however, discovered and tagged appropriately in the course of the study for easy reference, recognition, and for ethnic identity.