A STUDY OF CHURCH MUSIC IN EGBEMA LAND IN EDO AND DELTA STATES OF NIGERIA, 1938 – 2014
Author: THIKAN NATHAN DOUTIMIWEI DUINBAINIMIBOFA
Abstract
This thesis is a study of church music in Egbemaland between 1938 and 2014. Egbema comprises of several towns and villages in Edo and Delta States of Nigeria. The work examines the use of musical instruments in the churches (whether traditional or Western) and the religious music repertoire since the advent of Christianity in the area. The objectives of the study were to investigate the usage and roles of indigenously derived music in the churches in Egbemaland; identify the differences and similarities in the purpose and application of music in the various churches in the period under review; highlight the contributions of music to the growth of churches in Egbemaland; discuss the appropriateness and effectiveness of indigenously derived music in the worship of churches in the area; identify the textual, poetic and structural features of the music; analyze the textual, contextual and theological contents of the music; and transcribe and present the music in staff notation. The research design employed the historical, descriptive and hermeneutical methods. The researcher, employing the historical method, used both quantitative and qualitative variables in the collection of historical information from primary and secondary sources. The descriptive research method was used to derive the characteristics of the phenomenon being studied. The hermeneutical method was used in the interpretation and analysis of the texts of the repertoire. A total of thirty churches, amongst which are Orthodox, Pentecostal and Organization of African Indigenous Churches made up the population for the study. A combination of both the stratified and cluster sampling techniques was employed. The investigation established that church music in Egbemaland had both differences and similarities which existed in the choral and congregational singing and instrumental groups. It found that the interest, expression, vitality and value which music adds to worship contributed to the growth of the churches in Egbemaland. It further established that more indigenously derived music is appropriate and effective in the religious worship of the Christian churches in the area. It identified call and response, solo and chorus, verse and refrain, strophe and round as vocal forms. It established that the Period of Foundation (1938-1963) saw the emergence of the first Christian Churches in Egbemaland with very solemn, cold, sparse and minimal use of music. It also established that the Period of Nationalism (1963-1988) saw the beginning of translation and transliteration of English hymns into the Ijaw language for worship. It further established that the Period of Interculturalism (1988-2014) saw a blend of indigenously derived music with the music of other cultures. The study has provided a novel body of scholarly information on the structural features of indigenously derived church music in Egbemaland. It has also enhanced the development of sacred musicology through the interpretation of musico-theological elements in the church music in Egbemaland. The musical transcriptions in the study have added new insights to the corpus of Nigerian indigenous music. Recommendation is made for churches in a homogenous setting like Egbema, to employ more indigenous music in their worship services and activities and to also use more of the local language than any other.
Supervisor: Prof. Emurobome G. Idolor, Prof. Ovaborhene I. Idamoyibo
