THE MUSICIAN AS A STORYTELLER: A DIDACTIC STUDY OF SELECTED SONGS OF DAUDA EPO AKARA

Abstract

In Africa, before and even during the colonial time, music and dance have played a vital role in people's lives – spanning across their ability to communicate, and celebrate events, with an array of sounds announcing important ceremonies and even actions. In Africa, music is a social activity in which almost everyone participates. Music highlights African values, with various traditions accompanied by a melody (Mbaegbu, 2015). Many events of importance are celebrated with music, whether it is a marriage, a birth, or a ceremonial rite of passage. Even activities as mundane as digging, farming, cooking, chopping and harvesting, have songs that accompany them – hence there are work songs and relaxation songs in the traditional African societies (Adegoju, 2009). There are also songs of praise and renditions of criticism as well as songs recounting history. Thus, music is often performed outdoors, in the streets, courtyards or village squares.