INSTRUMENTAL RESOURCES: YAA PUBERTY RITES’ MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND FUNCTIONS IN OGONI COMMUNITIES OF RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Musical activity is an integral and functional part of Ogoni community. Music is very essential in all human activities and practices which express their emotions and feelings. All through the life of the Ogoni, they are surrounded with several rites of passage. Music making is generally organized as social events. Akpabot (1986) opines that “one of the chief characteristics of African traditional music is associated with social and ritual ceremonies.†(p. 1) Yaais the transition from boyhood to manhood in Ogoni community. Yaa is held in high esteem as a cherished age-long tradition which decides the fate of a young man in terms of his participation in the cultural practices of the land. Vidal (2012) posits that “there are traditions with traditional epochs and era.†(p. 43) According to elder Nsiga in an oral interview (2016) disclose that “the Yaa traditional rite is very important in Ogoni because there are certain positions in the community one cannot handle if the person has not performed the Yaa puberty rite.â€The puberty rite is celebrated once in two years and the duration is for eight months. These eight months long celebration is celebrated with music accompanied by musical instruments.