Music is a valuable asset that has contributed immensely to the economic, spiritual, educational and socio-cultural values of different societies at large.
Music, an expressive language of culture expresses emotions, teaches a lesson and is oftentimes used to instil moral values.
To instil better our understanding of how Music has largely influenced our socio-cues, I will break this topic into subheadings:
Music As A Time Capsule
The trends and cultural norms of societies can be felt in the music of the late era. Some songs have helped largely to internalize the key parts of our culture that might otherwise have been forgotten ie greetings, language, foods, rituals, marriage, fashion etc.
A song by Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey, Garri Ti Won, reminds us of a time of grave austerity in the country when he, a common food that was affordable by all, suffered a high rise due to austerity measures. At that time, the great Juju musician gave a remedy and encouraged more people to go into farming and adviced government on the Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) policy.
Many songs also give account of various happenings in the past. These songs and many more bring into our social consciousness of happening in the past that still reoccurs in the present time.
Music, A Teacher Of Language
The first communication we give and receive in life is through Music. Little wonder some musicians will tell you they started singing from their mothers womb(lol).
Most parents sing for their children from an early age. Most of these songs always gives spiritual bonding between mother and child thereby giving the child a level of confidence at the formative stage of life. The repetitive form of songs aids a child’s memory and fast assimilation.
Music, from research, have been seen as been conducive to our memories and easy to recall. Parents used the opportunities of songs to inculcate moral values into their children.
Few of our friends will remember the popular song, Dance With My Father by Luther Vandross. Many today reminisce how such social songs created bonding between them and their parents while growing up. Not forgetting Ambrose Campbell’s Omo Laso, a timeless classic and moral booster which makes every child to see him or herself as a priceless gift from God.
Music’s Influence On Our Fashion Trend
Many songs have helped greatly to contribute to the fashion trend of a society. Musicians also have become fashion billboards over the years. A lot of people are easily influenced by the outward appearance of their favourite music stars. Gradually, fashion became created with these arts.
James Bond, Elvis Presley, Kris Okotie always had the jerry curl hair style which gradually became a fashion trend. We also had Bobby Brown whose hairstyle and dress sense was imbibed by generations.
Music has set the standard for what is hot fashion wise for decades and also helped greatly to set clothing trends and shopping trends. When Ebenezer Obey sang the song Oro Ni Pa Lace in the 70′, he carefully described how a popular armed robber was caught during robbery in lace attire hence fear was instilled in every lace-wearer of that era. This shows how music affected the social cultural values and norms of fashionista.
Music As A Catalyst For Change
Music has helped in shaping our cultural values identities, thereby created bonding across age groups and even countries. Many songs have helped to connect people around the world and served as a catalyst for social change and a potent weapon that musicians have used to speak for those who have no voice.
The Vietnam War, The Black Lives Matters, Apartheid in South Africa, African American Civil Right Movement, Emancipation of Human Rights, Xenophobia, Cultism, etc, all had musicians as the mouthpiece of the masses.
Artistes at the forefront of these are Micheal Jackson and Quincy Jones (We Are The World), Bob Dylan’s (Blowin In The Wind), Luther Vandross (What A Wonderful World), Fela Kuti (Shuffering and Smhiling), Sonny Okosun (Which Way Nigeria), etc.
Music As A Medium For Social Reform And Advisory
Musicians have sang a lot of songs, serving as a reformatory aid for a lot of people. Songs like Ma Fagba Se Yeye by Orlando Julius, Itoju Obi by Theophilus Iwalokun, Omo Mi Seun Rere by Christie Essein Igbokwe, Papa Was A Rolling Stone by Temptations, Parigadi by KSA and Yoruba Ronu by Hubert Ogunde, just to mention a few, have had their impacts in societal and individual reformation.
Values The Anthem Brings
Every country has its own national anthem which is always a unique declaration of values, history, hope and aspirations of the singer. Singing our National Anthem with a crowd of strangers is the most patrotic socio cultural norms. A unique cultural identifier.
Music, An Important Part of Our Socio-Cultural Routine
There is really much that we cannot do without music. Whether you are attending a party, reading, cooking, cleaning, etc, Music naturally become our self-care and relieve us of all tensions abound. Music can be used to fix our moods and gradually becomes a part of our lives. Music, overtime, has become our favourite past time, distraction, hobby and an art form. And it has greatly helped to shape our socio-cultural values and life.
•A paper presented by Ambassador Farounbi at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, 1st of June, 2022.
