Ndigbo proudly have a special music style which incorporates different traditional musical instruments to create unique melodious sound. Even the advert of modern musical instrument could not replace the ever cherished beats of traditional instruments.
Coming to terms with this truth, new generation Igbo musician have resulted the fusion of both traditional and modern instrument in creating great rhymes and music to the delight of many. That said, but the beat and sounds of traditional instruments remains ever green and brings back memories to every Onye Igbo because Igbo music bear meanings, warning, caution, praises etc. Igbo music includes a range of traditional lullabies, rhythmic proverbs and poems, work songs and generally used in day-to-day life of Ndigbo.
Traditionally Igbo musical instrument are used for:
- Enhancing Igbo celebrations, events and festivals. i.e New Year, weddings, birthday parties, childbirth and naming ceremonies
- Bringin about a historically sacred ambiance at Igbo gatherings including church services, funerals, and eulogies
- Pleasure, such as when lullabies are sung by parents to their children
- Sports and labour
- Gguiding historians as they recount stories
The traditional Igbo musical instruments are categorized by how they played and the functions of the instrument in Igbo land including rhythm or melody they produce. These categories and there musical instruments include:
- Iku (To beat with beater): Instrument include Ekwe, Udu, Ogene, Ikoro
- Iyo (to shake, clap together or rattle): Instrument include Oyo, Ichaka
- Ikpo (To pluck or bow) : Instruments include- Ubo
- Iti (To strike a membrane with hand or beater): Instrument include Igba
- Ifu (To blow): Instrument includes- Opi, Oji
EKWE- Drum
Used in creating music at festive or celebrations and is made from hollow wood.
UDU-
Produces bass sound in Igbo music by taping the open mouth with a round and flat object. It was also used for storing water, palm oil, or to preserving produce.
IGBA- Cylinder-drum or Talking drum
Produces sound / tunes used to convey special signals for good news as well as bad news.
ICHAKA- Rattle
Produces rattling sound when tapped or shaken and used to compliment other instruments.
OPI - Horn
Produces sounds used in heralds the arrival or departure of Traditional ruler (Eze, Igwe, Obi) or a big masquerade.
IKORO - Communication drum
It produces a sense of urgency sound and is used for summoning people to gather at the village square for an important communication, often relating murder, abominable deeds, outbreak of war, or calamity in the community. It is special instrument usually kept in a fixed place.
OKIKE, ỌDU-MKPALỌ, and ENENKE - The Trumpets
Okike, Ọdu-mkpalọ and Enenke are all horns or trumpets produced from bones or horns of wild animals. Each horn is accorded its respect and utility according to the values and norms attached to the animals from which it is produced. These norms and values of the animals are further transferred to the societal social commitments.
They are used during social and traditional commitments and events such as title taking (Ichi Ọzọ), marriages, burial ceremonies and emergencies.
- OKIKE
Ọdu-okike or okike, as it is usually called, is a long hollowed elephant tusk carried by the ọzọ titled men in Igbo communities mostly within the areas of Agu-Ukwu, Nawfia, Umoji, Abagana, Onitsha, Nkwelle-Ezunaka and so on.
- ODU-MKPALO-
Odu-mkpala-alọ is a short form of okike which must be held by the Igbo ọzọ titled man. Unlike the okike which is heavy and long, odu-mkpa-alọ is held constantly on any occasion, be it marriage, death or a town gathering. It is associated with the red cap and eagle feathers for the ọzọ man and must be exhibited always for social recognition. Most of the time the holders are not experts in blowing it, but they need to hold it as occasion warrants. Oraifite, Nnewi and Amichi use it most often.
- ENENKE
Unlike the okike and ọdu mkpalo-alo, enenke is a horn produced from the wild animal called ene(deer). Its function is quite different from the other two. It is a specialized trumpet like the akpele of Midwest Igbo or akpili of the Omambala river zone, which includes the Oyi, Aguleri and Dunukofia local governments. The enenke is not owned by everybody and is not a status symbol as such, but is for the specialized artist whose job it is to perform when called upon. Furthermore, enenke does not fit into a musical composition and is not performed in a group, unlike akpele, which gives life and enhances a musical composition. Promoter, a trado-modern musician, used akpele extensively in his folk music, which was a pointer to preservation of our cultural music.
Enenke is performed as the occasion warrants. It is popularly used in Oraifite, Ichi, Ozubulu, Ihiala and the environs. The sound of enenke in Oraifite and its environs signals a particular social commitment. The people who are acculturated to its language will put ears to the ground to receive the message. Hearing it at midnight signifies danger or death. Late evenings may be for the heralding of mortuary rites. In the mornings, it may be for festivals, marriage attendance or a call for emergency meetings at the village square. In burials, great men and heroes go home to the sound of enenke. Also, in bringing home the symbolic corpse of a deceased Nwada (daughter of the community), the ceremony is heralded with the sound of enenke, songs and dances.
OGENE - Gong
It produces sound that invokes the ancestors. The beat of a good Ogene penetrates the soul especially if accompanied with a melancholic music.
UBO - Stringed instrument/ Thumb Piano
The ubo-aka is a “thumb piano” of the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. This instrument features a wood-burnt hardwood soundboard (with cut-out handholds) mounted on an incised, woodburnt gourd resonator. Instead of the traditional metal cuffs around each key, a metal chain is stretched across the key
