Image from Martosmer musical band
As was told by my father, the type of music that was predominant in our culture in their youthful days was the traditional genre type of music called "Asonogun." This type of music involved the use of locally made instruments like drums made with animal skin, iron made gong, and other locally made strings for beautifying the beat of the music. Songs rendered with this kind of music set were based on folklore and praises for eminent personalities in the community.
I had a little knowledge about this type of music because I only saw it being performed once when I was still a little kid. My dad was a member and a dancer in one of the music groups in my village. Over the years, this type of music gradually metamorphosed to a more robust setting and rendition with some alterations in the beatings and instrumentation. With the alterations in the beatings and instrumentation, the name of the traditional music also changed. People gave it a name based on the condition where they are frequently done, hence the name "Obito" coined from obituary.
Traditional or cultural music was mostly done at obituaries ceremonies. That informed the reason for the name "Obito." This traditional genre of music is still very predominant in my culture today. Despite modernization in musical instruments, our local musicians have preserved the traditional genre.
One would think that the traditional genre of music would die or fade out to the modern music genre. However, it seems that more people are still interested in listening to traditional music by patronizing those in the profession. Anywhere you go in my town, the traditional music is what you will hear in ceremonies and bars. Record stores feature them more prominently to modern music.
One factor that has helped in preserving traditional music despite the popularity of afro beat and the rest of modern music is the fact that young boys and girls are getting trained as traditional musicians, owing their bands and performing in local ceremonies like burial, weddings, birthday, house warming, etc.
In recent years, traditional music has gone beyond the shores of our land. Sons and daughters of our town living abroad sponsored some of the traditional musicians abroad for concerts and tours across Europe and Asia. These exposure helps the local musicians to streamline their profession in line with modern music, yet preserving its originality.
There are big names in the field who cannot go out to perform at an event for less than a million naira. Most of the traditional musicians are rich men and boys in my town. Their kind of music is in high demand for any traditional event. It will look like an abomination for someone to engage modern music in a traditional event. Even our men here have no business with modern music. They simply love traditional music over any other music genre.
As the evolution continues, I strongly believe that our Cultural traditional music cannot be discarded or fade out. With only a handful of people doing the music and living off it comfortably, new sets of people will continue to replace those who are older. Thus continuing the line in perpetuity. Our people love the traditional music and will keep patronizing those local musicians for their events.
