The significance of music in African culture: A study of Ogbanigbe Festival in Ukwu-Nzu Aniocha Local Government, Delta State.

Abstract

Music is a cultural expression interpreted, determined, moulded and coloured by culture and the cultural environment of a people, it plays a vital role in various aspects of celebrations amongst societies in Nigeria. In festivals, for example, music expresses the culture of the people. This study examined the role and significance of music in African culture in Ogbanigbe festival in Ukwu-nzu with emphasis on ideology, belief systems, organizational structures, significance of music practices, and mode of dressing, dialect, and communal activities. Its main objective is to critically study the music of ogbanigbe festival and collate ethnology materials that distinguish, differentiate and separate one community from another. The theory adopted for this paper is functionalism theory; the functionalism theory is used to define culture in relation to the reality of change. It traces the evolution of phenomena, the emphasis of culture on norms, tenets and values. The methodology used for the study is survey method, oral interview and fieldwork to assess the basic principles that are common in the musical culture of ukwu-nzu people during the ogbanigbe festival. In ukwu-nzu town, New Yam festival is associated with Ogbanigbe festival similar to some villages in Aniocha nomenclature. Four songs texts were selected and interpreted, the paper conclude that the significance of music in festival plays a huge role to showcase the cultural practices and beauty. Suggestions were made for the sustenance of cultural music in festivals.