SLC-S25/W5 | Community World Tour: Traditional Music and Dances

Hi guys I'm from the tribe of Ibibio in Akwa Ibom in Nigeria, we have different traditional music and dance but in this challenge, I want to talk about the xylophone rhythms which is also known traditionally as "Ikon" or "Ikon-eto",.

It is believed that the xylophone is originated in Southeast Asia and spread to Africa. But whatever the case, it was adopted and it spreads into various African cultures, including the Ibibio which is my culture . The Ikon is more than just a musical instrument that is played, it plays a vital role when being used in ceremonies and some social gatherings, which portrays a sense of community presence and cultural identity in the environment.

The "TYPE LESS SMILE MORE" Expression
It is the music that warms the heart

So let me briefly tell what this is all about the xylophone is wooden stick a particular stick is used to produce this sound.

In a cold frosty morning, you are awakened by the sound of a wooden xylophone the next thing you do is to pay attention to the voice behind the wooden sound you heard. Then the voice of an old man or an aged man giving announcements or a warning to the villagers echoes. Basically, if you really want to get the gist of the news you get up from your bed rush out immediately and meet the person and listen to him while he is making the announcements . Looking back, you will see other villagers that are also lining up the road paying attention to the same person. And what's bring out all these people, what makes this people pay attention to what the man is going to say, what calls everyone out from their home? a sound wooden xylophone.

[//]:# (!steematlas 5.08223945 lat 8.04835925 long Ibibio cultural xylophone music d3scr)

So why did I choose this rhythm?

I choose this rhythm because it is always my best when it comes to traditional music the reason because anytime I see how this would produce this sweet sounds I always imagine where that knowledge comes from how do people even get to know that is wood can produce such sounds and it helps me appreciate the loving work of our creator.

Another reason why I choose this rhythm is that it's always brings back so many memories to mind. I remember my childhood days back then in school in the village I also remember the village life that has been lost many of our children have not experienced such life.

This rhythm helps me to appreciate nature it helps me appreciate our fore father's.

How I made the video,

I downloaded the track from free site, then sign up to bandlap, then created the remix there by first uploading my downloaded free sound of xylophone. I added my vocals the saved it, edit it, remove noise, autopitch, then proceeded to added remix using features in the app. While, editing and adding other features I was very careful so that my voice should still be heard.

It was actually fun exploring the app and I did that the whole day because I have to learn some other things in the app and I really appreciate it because it will help me to make different videos.

Finally I created my dance video there using the soundtrack that I remix, it's my first time and so I am open for any corrections.

Explore a rhythm or dance from another culture

So as I explore our own cultural rhythm I dance from another culture. If you look at me in the video I am dancing Igbo traditional dance. And I'm also wearing something similar to their attire. I used two white handkerchiefs, while shaking my body I'm flinging the white handkerchief which is how the Igbo people display their cultural dance.

About my videos

So I attended a dinner party organised by women in surveying so this rhythm was displayed so I captured it though the video did not really capture the beauty of the cultural drumming, so with a permission of my brother @ubongudofot I have a link here to a video he posted about this culture xylophone display by school kids. So you can watch the video to really understand how this music is being played and the beauty of it.