REPOSITIONING INDIGENOUS AFRICAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS FOR THE MUCH-NEEDED CULTURAL TRANSFORMATION OF MUSIC EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The objective of this article is to take a critical look at one of musical heritage of Africa, the indigenous musical instruments with the purpose of repositioning them for cultural transformation of music education in Nigeria. The methodology relies on bibliography, discography and the Internet. Hinged on the transformative theory, the paper notes the invaluable resources Africa possesses in terms of musical instruments. Several works have been done on the subject while little has been done to properly integrate the instruments into Nigerian music education. Some of the assumed problems are looked into while the way forward is suggested. The paper concludes that it is only when Nigeria makes full use of its indigenous musical instruments alongside other indigenous musical elements that it can boast of an effective music education and consequently find its rightful place in global music scholarship.