IGBO TRADITIONAL MUSIC AND CULTURAL IDENTITY: CONTEMPORARY INFLUENCES AND TRANSFORMATIONS IN IGBO SOCIETY

Abstract

Music is widely recognized as an integral component of culture because it embodies and communicates the values, beliefs, and practices of a people. Among the Igbo of Nigeria, music occupies a central place in social, religious, and ceremonial activities, serving as a medium through which cultural identity is expressed and preserved. This study examines the various aspects of Igbo culture reflected in traditional music and explores the contemporary influences, both internal and external, that have shaped traditional musical forms and practices. The research adopted a qualitative approach, utilizing bibliographic sources and participant observation as methods of data collection. The study is anchored in Reflection Theory and Cultural Change Theory, which provide a framework for understanding the relationship between music, culture, and social transformation. The study concludes that although contemporary influences have transformed the modes of transmission, performance contexts, and stylistic features of Igbo traditional music, its core cultural values and identity-bearing functions remain largely intact.