A Study on the Form, Structure and Functions of Igbo Work Songs
Keywords:
Song, work song, form, structure and functionsAbstract
The study examines Igbo work songs to identify their forms, efficiency and roles in the Igbo society. In recent times, globalization seems to have made so much inroads into Africa and its culture as to relegate traditional lore, indigenous mores and values to the background. This paper therefore: aims at documenting Igbo work songs in a bid to identify and preserving Igbo: work songs so that future generation will benefit from them. The paper is premised on functionalism theory which has its mayor assumption that literatures is and naught to be relevant to the society that has given birth to it as well as nurture it. Data for study were collected from Afikpo in Ebonyi state, Nsukka in Enugu state, Onitsha in Anambra state and lmo state. The study used interview and participant observation methods. An unstructured self-administered questionnaire was used for one category of respondents who were thought knowledgeable enough about Igbo work songs. The data collected using electronic devices were transcribed and translated from Igbo to English. The literal and deep structure meanings were carefully analysed by using an elderly Igbo speaker as an informant. Data were further evaluated and triangulated according to themes that emerged, by employing narrative method. The major findings of the study reveal that joint singing of work songs coordinates the action and leads the workers to feel and work as a co-operating group, not as separate individuals. The rhythm of the song encourages the people to work harder, faster, and with more enjoyment. Furthermore, the findings of the study reveals that some of the work songs comment on life in general, on local events and express ideas of love and friendship and thus lighten the labour and give an opportunity for poetic expression in the midst of work.
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