Musical archiving of Nigerian ethics and identity in àgídìgbo music of Yorùbá, southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Although, discursive engagement on archival narratives has obviously attracted a myriad of scholarly attention in so many dimensions, the extent to which such deliberation is extended to the inherent capacity of Nigerian indigenous music in archival discourse is scanty. In the same vein, the concept of ethics and identity have received much attention, but such attention cannot be said to have engaged the mind of scholars from musicological point of view in a densely manner. Whereas, many Nigerian traditional music represents a collection of documents thereby serving as means of recording historical interest and cultural values of a dynamic society, this has not been properly documented. Perhaps, the paucity of literature in both areas stems from the general notion that archive is construed from the perspective of physical building where archival materials are kept. This paper therefore explores how traditional music is used as agency for archiving cultural values in Yorùbá cosmology, using àgídìgbo music as a point of departure. Interviews were conducted to illicit information and musical excerpts were recorded from life performance of àgídìgbo exponents in Iwo (Osun state), Eruwa (Oyo state) and Abeokuta (Ogun state). Data were subjected to content analysis. It was revealed that àgídìgbo is a veritable means through which Nigerian ethics and identity of communal living, solidarity, contentment, patriotism, and hospitality are preserved for present and future contemplations.