The Beauty of Traditional Music; |
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Yesterday, I had the chance to attend our cultural and traditional group rehearsal again. I’ve been busy with exams recently, but to the glory of God, I’ll be done in two days
Traditional music has many magical functions and meanings, and it embodies the culture and traditions of the people. It is usually a means of transferring cultural history and heritage from one generation to another through songs.
In the time of my grandfathers, as I was told, they used to sit under the big tree in the moonlight, and children would gather around them. There, they would tell stories about their culture and teach them morals. In this way, they helped preserve the culture and passed it on to their children
In Africa, especially in my country Nigeria, we have a rich cultural heritage and traditions passed down to us by our ancestors. However, the modern society has, in one way or another, lost many of these cultural expressions. Traditional music is now bringing many of those cultural stories back to life. It is more than just sound it is a message and a story.
I grew up in a place where music wasn’t just for dancing or passing time , it was a way of life. The beating of the drum, the hums of folk singers, the call-and-response chants... all of these shaped my childhood memories. I didn’t realize it then, but those sounds were carrying history, wisdom, and culture. Now I see just how beautiful and powerful it is as it has form part of me.
It’s Not Just Music — It’s a message. |
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One of the most beautiful things about traditional music is how deeply it connects you to your roots. When I hear some of those old songs, I feel like I’m being transported back to my grandmother’s compound, where the women would sing while peeling cassava, or to evening gatherings where elders told stories through song. These ways of life is gradually fading away and some cultures and traditions are not passed to the next generation. As such we try to see how we can bring them back through this folk songs.
Anytime we perform, These weren’t just performances but also passing some messages, culture and traditions. They are also lessons. They taught values. I remember songs about respect for elders, the importance of hard work, community love, and even songs that warned us against envy and pride. Without going to any formal classroom, we were learning life's biggest lessons. These is our aims and what we are preserving.
The Sound of Our Instrument |
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Another thing that makes traditional music so unique is the used of local instruments. Not electronic or fancy, but real, handmade tools from nature. Drums made from animal skin, rattles from gourds, wooden flutes… There’s a certain rawness and honesty in those sounds.
Music That Unites |
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Traditional music has this powerful way of bringing people together. Whether it’s during a naming ceremony, wedding, burial, or even a festival, once the music starts, everyone finds their place. Old, young, male, female everyone moves to the same rhythm.
Even when you don’t understand the words, you feel the message. That’s the magic of it. It’s not just something you hear, it’s something you feel deep in your chest. It becomes a heartbeat yours, mine, ours. For it meant to connect us to our roots.
Let’s Not Let It Die |
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Our primary aim is to preserve and transfer the our cultural heritage from one generation to another through songs. To be honest, I sometimes worry we are losing this beautiful part of who we are. The new generation is growing up on pop, Afrobeats, and hip-hop (which are great too, don’t get me wrong), but many have never really felt the depth of traditional music. They don’t know how powerful it can be to sing in your mother tongue, to dance to a rhythm that has been passed down for centuries.
I think it’s time we started paying attention again. Not just for the sake of culture, but because there’s healing, wisdom, and identity in these songs. The beauty of traditional music lies not just in the sound but in the soul it carries.
My Final Thoughts... |
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Traditional music reminds me of who I am and where I come from. It’s like a whisper from my ancestors telling me, "Never forget." And I won’t. I choose to celebrate it, to sing it, to share it.
If you’ve got a traditional song that means something to you, drop it in the comments. I’d love to hear what songs shaped your childhood or still move you today. Let continue to preserve our rich cultural heritage and passed it on to the next generation. Let’s not let this beautiful sound fade into silence. Let’s keep the rhythm alive.
Thank you for reading.
@tipu curate
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Thank you for sharing your quality content by dropping your valuable views on given theme. You are absolutely right traditional music itself generates feelings of peace and insightful relaxation. It's good to see that you enjoyed it with your friends. Keep engaging with other's users posts too. Thank you.
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