Igbo Proverbs and the Emergence of a Metaphysical Model of Music Analysis (M³)

Abstract

The role of proverbs in the search for a model of analysis is the focus of this work. Igbo proverbs have continually offered access and insight into the thought patterns of Igbo people. Even though a collective consciousness may not be called a philosophy in the strict sense, an analysis of the thoughts, experiences and sayings of the Igbo concerning music has led to abstractions of real philosophical concepts that are presented here as categories for understanding and analyzing Igbo music. It is hoped that this approach will offer a new model of interpretation in Igbo music studies in particular and ethnomusicology in general.