Traditional Music, Cultural Values and Belief Systems in Nigeria: Interrogating the Place of Spirit Manifests in Oshimili Communities

Abstract

This paper examines the roles of music in expressing and connecting with the spiritual realm in Oshimili Communities of Nigeria. These Communities have a rich cultural heritage intertwined with their belief systems and customs. Despite external influences and modernization trends, many Oshimili Communities strive to preserve their cultural values and belief systems. This paper relies on oral interviews and literature to trace the origin, performance practices, and structure of the indigenous music in Oshimili. Due to restrictions placed on non-initiate members, information on the spirit manifest among the communities under study is limited; hence oral interviews and literature reviews are relied upon as source of data. The relationship between music, cultural values, and belief systems in these communities demonstrate the profound spiritual connections that music can foster. It is important to investigate and understand the historical perspectives and significances of the spirit manifest among these indigenous communities in order to protect, preserve and promote the continuity of this unique cultural heritage. Three Communities in Oshimili are involved in the performance practices of the spirit manifest, and they are main the focus of this study. The communities are: Illah, Oko and Asaba communities. It is also important to investigate the roles of spirit manifests among Oshimili communities and point out their distinctive significant roles in maintaining, preserving and upholding the cultural norms and values of these communities. The study further brings out the current changes in the performance structures of spirit manifests in the communities under investigation.