1.1 Introduction
Music plays vital roles in various aspects of celebrations among societies in Nigeria. Traditional festivals constitute the life wire of the socio-religious practices (Ajetunmobi and Ishola, 1998). The festival is an acceptable general behaviour guarded by the norms and beliefs of its members. It is a festival of music and dance and is also used as period to pray for peace and prosperity in the communities.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are significance of the study, scope of work, research questions, limitation of the study and definition of terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Traditional folk songs and indigenous-derived performance practices have continued to distinguish the musical content of Egungun, Agemo and Zangbeto traditional festivals. Music (both vocal and instrumental) therefore, plays a very significant role in traditional festivals in Akesan land. It is the music that makes the festival interesting; it is very basic to the festival because every activity revolves around it.
Egungun is celebrated every ten years in Akesan, but the last one before the 2011 festival was celebrated 14 years ago. The festival celebration is organized in two sections; first is the cultic, which involves various rituals and worship session; and the second session is social strictly for entertainment.
The duration of the festival is three months. The preparation includes public announcement to create awareness. Movement is restricted to 6.00 am and 10.00pm for the period of the festival and the pre festival rituals. Usually prior to the day of performance of each Egungun, the family that owns the Egungun usually entertain the community with food, drinks and music. Thus, proper preparations for the festival, especially the financial aspect, are made to ensure success of the periodic celebration.
Zangbeto is one of the traditional ways of crime control among the Ogu (Egun) people of Badagry, Nigeria. Zangbeto does not make use of violence in preventing and controlling crime. Zangbeto is a masquerade which serves the purpose of cultural entertainment in the day but a powerful mechanism of policing and securing the community at night.
Omibiyi (2005) viewed festival as a periodic celebration in acknowledgement of blessings already received, and means of requesting for more blessings, protection and guidance from the creator through lesser gods and ancestors. Omojola (2006) observed among the various traditional communities in Nigeria that as a periodic celebration, festivals provide occasional forum for the people to pray for peace and prosperity, to offer sacrifices to the gods, to make atonement for the sins of the past as well to celebrate common ancestry.
Therefore, in Ogun State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Role of Music in Some Traditional Festivals.
1.3 Statement of Problems
This study investigated the experiences of children especially girls on the Egungun, Agemo and Zangbeto Festivals festival and their psycho-social development. It further sought to know their views on the development of their self-concept, self-esteem and gender inequality especially as it relates to their rights as children. Also, the perceived perception of classroom teachers were examined as it relates to the Egungun, Agemo and Zangbeto Festivals.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Role of Music in Traditional Festival using Egungun, Agemo and Zangbeto Festivals as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To investigate the roles of music in Egungun, Agemo and Zangbeto traditional festivals in Ogun State;
- To examine the theme, content and the roles of song texts used in the traditional festival; and
- To assess the relationship between Egungun, Agemo and Zangbeto traditional music festivals in Ogun State.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Is there any relationship between Egungun, Agemo and Zangbeto traditional music festivals in Ogun State?
- What are the roles of music in Egungun, Agemo and Zangbeto traditional festivals in Ogun State?
- What are the theme, content and the roles of song texts used in the traditional festival?
1.6 Significance/Justification of Study
The practical concerns also emphasize the significance of studying the songs and musical instruments which are integral, interwoven and accompany these festivals. Therefore, this study is significant in that it provides documentation on the theme, content and the roles of songs in the Egungun traditional festival in Akesan land. In addition, the study also provides songs in staff notation, musical analysis of selected songs as well as interpretation of their texts. The study has the potential of stimulating further ethno musicological studies along the same line in other traditional Nigerian and African communities.
The festivals serve the purpose of renewing the life of the community and giving it cohesion. They also strengthen the bond between the clans and the community. They provide avenue for young adults to contribute to the welfare of aged people outside their own immediate families. This is mainly done through money and food contribution which are in turn shared by the elders.
1.7 Scope of Study
The scope of this research is focused on the Role of Music in Traditional Festival using Egungun, Agemo and Zangbeto Festivals as a case study.
1.8 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
- Initial Cooperation Delay from Respondents: A particular limitation of this work came as a result of the respondent refusal to offer their cooperation at the initial time they were contacted. This contributed in making the success of this research study difficult.
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