Question 4
- State any five characteristics of Nigerian traditional music.
- List any five occasions during which Nigerian traditional music is performed.
Observation
Candidates were attracted to this question, but their responses were below average. This is due to the candidates’ inadequate knowledge of Nigeria's traditional musical types. Some candidates chose Islamized, Church-based, or Popular musical practices over Nigerian traditional music, costing them some of the valuable marks allotted to the question. They should have responded to the question in the following manner:
- Characteristics of Nigerian/Ghanaian Traditional Music
(i) The music is not notated
(ii) Audience participates actively in the performance
(iii) The music is owned by the community
(iv) The music forms integral part of everyday lives
(v) There is an independence of instruments in instrumental ensemble
(vi) The melodies are mostly short and repetitive
(vii) It usually has complex rhythms and polyrhythms.
(viii)Hand clapping is sometimes used as an accompaniment.
(ix) Texts are highly functional.
(x) It is used as social behaviour control.
(xi) It is conceived as an art which includes dance, drama, costumes, singing.
- Occasion in which Nigerian/Ghanaian Traditional music is performed
Durbar, marriages, puberty rites, rituals, naming ceremonies, announcement, court music, festivals, enthronement/enstoolment/enskinment, dethronement/diskinment/destoolment, house warming, recreation, entertainment.