Rejuvenating and preserving Ibibio cultural ethos in children's moonlight play songs through the mass media

Abstract

The Ibibios, like people in other cultures, are endowed with a set of norms and moral principles that act as a guiding philosophy in social, political, economic and religious domains. The value of moonlight songs and tales in traditional society cannot be overemphasised. This important traditional musical genre plays a significant role in conveying educational, traditional, cultural, religious and social principles to children. This paper examines the means of observable shift from the oral medium of transmission of moonlight play songs to radio and television. Despite the immense qualities of moonlight play songs, they are more or less becoming endangered species in the present-day society. The reasons for this development could be partly owing to incessant killings in the society, violence, hatred, and rancour. This has barred children from engaging in communal activities, thereby rendering the main essence of moonlight plays defeated. There is a need for a paradigm shift from the traditional/indigenous setting to modern through the mass media such as television, radio and the internet. The qualitative approach was adopted as the methodology. This method included fieldwork, interviews, recording, transcription of selected moonlight songs. It is thus suggested Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Company, IFM105.9, Comfort FM, FM 94.5 Passion FM could serve as veritable media to propagate valuable lessons embedded in this traditional music genre to promote good morals and ethos. Similarly, curriculum planners at the early education level should integrate moonlight play songs into the curriculum.