Perspectives on Égwú-Ùbo music in Nkanu community, Enugu State

Abstract

In traditional African culture, music and dance are integral part of the day-to-day activities due to their fundamental values. The aesthetics of each traditional music and dance are essential in music creation and consumption, and form part of the culture and world-view of the society. Égwú-Ùbọ is one of the foremost music and dance cultures of the Nkanu people. This paper examines the instrumentation in Égwú-Ùbọ music of the Nkanu West and Enugu South and its aesthetic function. The expressiveness in this dance music is embedded in its skillful expressions, masculinity, femininity and the complexity of the dance patterns. Are there some elements of uniqueness in Égwú-Ùbọ music? What are the African idioms or features in the dance music? The study made use of field research and in-depth interview for data collection, while the methodology used in the research include participant observation and experimentation methods. Library resources also form a crucial part of the data collected for this paper. Findings reveal that the uniqueness and the values in Égwú-Ùbọ music of Nkanu people are in the skillful expression of their dance steps which can be used as a means of communication. It has emerged as the most widely-presented folk dance style for social activities by all Nkanu people.