Indigenous music and religion among Ilorin people of North Central Nigeria

Abstract

The diachronic realities of indigenous African culture (especially that of music) in the consciousness of rising modern popular culture calls for urgent attention. Hence, it is imperative for scholars and researchers to pay attention to the dwindling knowledge of culture. Against this backdrop, this study documents the indigenous music arts among Ilorin people of Kwara State in North Central, Nigeria. This ethnographic research relies on descriptive method, field observations of indigenous musicians in Ilorin and book reviews. This study reveals the influence of the Islamic religion on the indigenous musical arts in Ilorin vis-à-vis urbanization and modern culture as acceptance and popularity of the indigenous practices is reliant on the permeation of religion. Findings reveal the multifaceted functionalities of these indigenous styles and the issue of gender relativity in their musicianship. This study posits that, the syncretic effects of western culture, civilization, religion, the issue of culture change against the culture of restraint contributed to the evolution and emergence of new indigenous styles, thereby, sending old styles into oblivion. This study therefore recommends the need for more efficiency of designated centres and repositories of culture discussed in this study, in the bid to preserve music of the Ilorin people.