THE ROLE OF TRADITIONAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND COMMUNICATION IN EGUNGUN FESTIVAL: THE CASE OF DUNDUN ENSEMBLE

Abstract

Abstract The study investigated the influence of Dundun Ensemble on the behavioral performance of African masquerade and the masqueraders during the festival; examined the role of Dundun Ensemble in Egúngún festival. It also examined the influence of dundun ensemb le on Egungun and his followers; and recommended the essential music instruments to be used for different occasions. These were with a view to providing information on the use of African musical instruments in churches and academic environment. Ethnoghraphic approach was adopted as the theoretical framework for this study and oral interview was carried out at Itoko area of Abeokuta south local government of Ogun state, Nigeria where Egungun festival is being practiced. The study observed that the drum surrogacy is a form of communication which conveys messages that intimate the masquerade to misbehave. African drums also are said to be attached to deities in whom the drummers invoke the spirit that intoxicate the masquerade into another realms of performance. It is therefore recommended in the study that the avoidance of some African musical instruments in churches and academic environment as their uses can intoxicate and metamorphosis their performers into another realm.