PSYCHO-SONIC MUSIC AS A COBBLING TOOL USED IN THE JOS PEACE-BUILDING PROCESS: THE “ZAMAN LAFIYA”

Abstract

Music, a sustained sound that fluctuates between notes of different pitches, is often linked to mood. A certain song can make people feel happy, sad, energetic, or relaxed. Music may trigger unwanted memories, evoking upset or anger. This article analyses a popular folk song called “Zaman Lafiya” and its impact on people during crises in the Plateau State capital, Jos. The 2021 ethno-religious crisis is one of the continuous crises in Plateau State that has exacerbated the situation, making Jos a hub of violence and upheaval and hindering socio-economic development. The government's regular methods of conflict resolution, that is, the regular use of force and dialogue, have yielded tortoise-walk results as the state still witnesses crises. It is imperative to note that the crisis would require a multi-faceted solution, given that the use of force (soldiers and police) to achieve peace can only lead to a temporary and superficial solution. This therefore invites other means of dispute resolution to the table, one of which is music, which directly influences human psychosis. A crisis is first a mental, violent dispute; as such, it should be best dealt with mentally, and music is an effective means of achieving that. Relying on secondary sources of information, a qualitative research method with a bit of analysis is employed in the research. The research therefore argues that the therapeutic benefits of music in a peace-building process could be harnessed if consciously put into action.