Legacies of Master Musicians, Tradition Bearers and Custodians of Culture: Rethinking Indigenous Musical Knowledge, Cultural Continuity, and Heritage Preservation in Nigeria

Abstract

This is maintained in Nigeria by the living archives of master musicians, tradition bearers, cultural custodians who carry out their own repertoire, technique, memories, instruments, ritual, and pedagogies as their living archive of community. This is a positional paper, which proposes that the conservation of heritage in Nigeria should be expanded to include the identification and support of individuals who embody, interpret, teach and continue indigenous music. The article draws upon recent literature in the field of Nigerian traditional music, African indigenous knowledge systems, de-colonial music education, oral transmission, intangible cultural heritage, and digital preservation, as well as cultural tourism, to consider the role of master artists as cultural educators, historical sources, performers, innovators, and the custodians of memory. It also examines the challenges to cultural continuity such as older custodians, urbanization, religious shifts, westernized education, commercial dilution, poor documentation, and poor cultural policies. The author recommends a Living Heritage Transmission Framework for Indigenous Musical Knowledge in Nigeria, a model that is based on ethical relationships between knowledge bearers, communities and educational institutions; cultural agencies and digital platforms, current and younger generations.