Indigenous Knowledge Acquisition and Transfer among Members of the Nupe Royal Music Band in Nigeria

Abstract

The traditional Nupe royal music has survived till the present day in spite of the splitting of the Kingdom into seven emirates. This royal music has passed through generations through a knowledge transfer and acquisition aspects of which are shrouded in mystery. This study investigated this traditional knowledge transfer system. The case study approach was used, with all 50 members of the traditional royal band of Bida emirate forming the population and sample of the study. Data was collected by structured and translated questionnaire. Findings show that the acquisition of knowledge is largely through traditional instruction methods, learning through observation and imitation of older relatives, while apprenticeship is not popular. The challenges faced by this traditional system of knowledge acquisition and transfer include myths associated with the knowledge, lack of interest and rural to urban drift by the youth, poor remuneration of members and the negative influences of modernisation on indigenous cultures. The use of ICT in repackaging the knowledge is recommended as strategy to preserve the knowledge as well as promote its acquisition among the youth.