Moral Teaching in Yoruba Folk Music and Its P...

Moral Teaching in Yoruba Folk Music and Its Prospect for Nigeria Socio – Political Stability and National Development

Author Name : Ojelabi Cornelius Olufemi, Thompson Elijah Olagoke

ABSTRACT

Folk music performance is a common phenomenon among Africans and indeed Nigerian people. It is performed in variety of socio-cultural and religious activities. The norms and values that constitute acceptable behaviour and make every individual a vessel to him and the society are embedded in folk music. Studying Yoruba folk music, this paper takes a cursory look at its roles over the years in combating social vices, maintaining stability and enhancing good governance. Relying on existing literature and oral interview, this paper enumerates various ways by which Yoruba folk music is being used to curtail social problems and ensure good governance. It is realized that abandonment of this important traditional musical genre for western culture is a major factor that engender moral decadence in Nigeria. This paper therefore inferred that this age long Yoruba moral teaching method should not be undermined but better incorporated into the music curricula of Nigerian primary and secondary education in order for the youths to be properly integrated into the society. It is hoped that by this, good leadership characters devoid of corruption and egotism will be inculcated in Nigerian youths, social menace will be controlled and peaceful co-existence society will be guaranteed for sustainable development.

Keywords: Folk Music, Social vices