The Importance of Music in the Cultural Policy of Nigeria: A Focus on Selected Igbo Folk Songs

Abstract

Cultural policy is generally regarded as an instrument of promotion of National identity and Nigerian unity. It is also a means of communication and co-operation among different Nigerian or African cultures. Generally speaking, the cultural life in Nigeria is to a large extent marked by tradition and traditional forms of cultural events which are very popular. These include festivals, exhibitions, and performances, playing of music and dancing in the open. Studies in Igbo oral performance include folksongs, folksongs, riddles proverbs, histories, legends, myths, drama, oratory and festivals. These are veritable instruments of education for the younger generations into adulthood. The paper treated in details, five Igbo songs taking into consideration the language translations of the themes through content analysis of surface and philosophical meanings. The analysed folktunes are Egwu nwa (maternity songs), Egwu echichi (installation song), Egwu akwamozu (funeral song), Egwu agha (war song) and Egwu onwa (moon-light song). Through these folksongs, the younger generation is educated morally, intellectually, socially and in creativity. Music is most sovereign more than anything else because rhythm and harmony find their ways to the innermost soul and take strongest hold upon it.