A STUDY OF MGBAGA CULTURAL DANCE OF OBIOFIA UMUENEM OTOLO NNEWI IN NNEWI NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

Dance music plays an important role in a typical Africa society, therefore the researcher investigate the Mgbaga dance music of Obiofia Umuenem Otolo Nnewi North Local Government Area. As an ethno musicological study, this work delved into the musical activities of the aforementioned group, their origin/historical background, costumes, their place of rehearsals/performance. The data for the research was sourced through relevant literatures, oral interviews and research assistants. Findings show that rural and urban migration among the members of the Mgbaga dance group has really affected their musical activities. As a cultural art, the act of musical art performance is seen by the people of the community as a means of sustaining and transmitting the different cultural ethos of the community to the next generations, this they do by involving their young ones (males) in early musical activities such as initiating them to dance group in the community. The researcher found out that the group has codes and conducts that serve as a platform for individual/collective reformation and development of their members.