MELODIES OF MEANING: THE INFLUENCE OF BARI BII AND KANUTETE ON OGONI COMMUNITY LIFE

Abstract

The Bari Bii and Kanutete music groups have contributed educative roles, immensely to the development of Ogoni land. The Bari Bii has its stronghold Bari Bii, Kanutete, in Khana Local Government Area while the Kanutete music group is

Ogoni Communites, performed in Gokana Local Government Area all in Ogoni land. Through Rivers State their music, Ogoni communities are recognized far and near. These sociocultural groups have honoured invitations both within and outside the communities and these music groups were handed over to them by their forefathers and the music has passed on from one generation to another. This is revealed in the performances of their traditional dance, songs and instrumentations. The researcher tends to find out the reason for decline in the recruitment of members to the two music groups and also to ascertain the social and educative roles of the Bari Bii and Kanutete music groups and document their music. The aim of this study is to investigate the socio-cultural implications of the Bari Bii and Kanutete music groups of Ogoni, focusing on their social and educative roles. This will help for proper documentation and future knowledge. The methodology used here were oral interviews, observations and active participation which enhanced data collection and provided adequate materials added to literatures sourced at the libraries from journals, magazines, books, conference papers and internet sources. This helped for effective research methodology. The songs relied on, for this study, includes social songs, educative songs and entertainment songs. The texts of the songs are mostly in proverbs and in indigenous languages of the people. The idea is to collate, compile, translate, transcribe and analyze them, and through proper investigations highlight the social and educative implications amongst them. The findings revealed that the music of the two music groups are used as corrective measures in Ogoni communities. Their songs also serve as a source of information, entertainment and historical data to the folk communities. In recommendation therefore, the Bari Bii and Kanutete music groups playing a socio-cultural and educative music role in the communities, usher love, joy, peace, checkmate illicit behaviours, maintain norms and values, should be encouraged to function effectively in the communities, and not allowed to go into extinction