Music as a Tool for Shaping the Growing Individual: A Review

The paper is directed at contributing to the awareness of the need to emphasize the need for music education in schools. Music has largely been touted as a tool for training, however, it is practically being employed as a source of entertainment and a means of engaging learners in the classroom, thereby paying less attention to its evolving effect on the individual. Consequently, a number of literature emphasizing the importance of music as an instrument for the total development of the learner, has been thoroughly reviewed in this paper. This is to expose stakeholders of education particularly educators, policymakers, parents and heads of educational institutions to the inseparable benefits of music in the general education of the learner. It is therefore crucial for teachers and heads of schools to liaise with Parent-teacher associations, non-governmental organizations, School management boards and the Ministry of Education to help furnish schools with appropriate musical instruments and facilities such as sound laboratories, secluded rooms for audio-visuals to aid teachers and learners in the teaching and learning endeavour. Keywords: Music education, Philosophy of music, Interpretation of music education

Beyond Telling the Mind’s Story and Minding the Story: Tracing Asonogun Music Ancestry in Esan, Edo State, Nigeria

This article examines the evolutionary tendencies - the origin of Asonogun music genre of the Esan. This has become necessary in the light of earlier efforts which appear to be speculative. The focus of this present study is not to determine the age of this musical practice but to clear the seeming ambiguities peddled by previous researchers who believe that it is a spinoff of the music used in the worship of the god of iron in Esan. Of the thirty-five kingdoms in Esan, data was drawn from twenty towns that were adjudged to be still consistent in the performance of this music. Five major musical ensembles were later further investigated, one each from the five local government areas in eliciting data for this study. The study revealed that Asonogun is simply a recreational type of music and dance performed by both male and female participants whose origin has nothing to do with the worship of the god of iron. The study arrived at key conclusions that in this current era of globalisation, it is paramount that in-depth research is conducted before making public any findings because christening a social/ recreational musical genre fetish could generate apathy for the genre. This in turn could restrict audience participation and lead to the annihilation of the musical practice.. Keywords: Asonogun, Igbabonelimin, Igbaboasono, Ikhien

Exploring the Theology of Selected Hymns: Towards an African Christian Theology of Mission

This paper explores the theological message embedded in the hymns: “The incarnate God appeared” and “Come Holy Spirit, come now”. Theological findings from these hymns are used to formulate an African Christian theology of mission based on thematic areas such as the trinitarian dimension of mission, the centrality of the cross in mission, mission as the core mandate of the Church and mission as incarnational agapaō. By this, the paper makes the message of the selected hymns accessible to the global Christian community, promotes the development of hymnody in the African church and at the same time provides a paradigm for Christian mission in the 21st century African society. This is a literature research that uses data from books, theses, journal articles, among others. The findings indicate that hymns constitute a great tool for the missionary enterprise of the church, therefore Christian hymns should be developed and promoted. It is recommended that, for Christian mission in Africa to be meaningful and relevant to Africans, it must endeavor to address the existential issue in African societies. Key Words: Africa, Hymns, Christology, Mission, Pneumatology, Theology

African Christian View on Morality of Abortion

There are several medical, ethical, theological, and personal sensitive questions on abortion – a developing phenomenon across all racial groups. Admittedly, the debates over its morality and verdicts are complex. Notwithstanding the complexity and the numerous sensitive questions surrounding its morality, it has been observed that some women practice abortion regardless of their religious and cultural affiliations. Perhaps, there must have been a gap which may have been serving as grounds for the practice of abortion among women without considering the rights of the foetus. This study seeks to find out the rightness or wrongness of the phenomenon, viewed from African Christian perspective. The study blends ethical and theological methods and a qualitative technique in the analysis. The findings are that even though women have the rights to commit abortion, regardless of the rights of the foetus, they should exercise those rights and make the choice before conception, and not after. This is because once they conceive, the child has independent rights both before and after birth. The study recommends that pregnant women should not take it upon themselves to end the lives of the unborn. Those who are seeking abortion are to be encouraged to consider other options such as giving birth and giving out the babies for adoption. This work fills the gap between African Christian and secular views on the morality of abortion. Keywords: foetus, abortion, morality, murder.

Remdel Music and Video Mart in the Production and Management of Music and Musicians in Nigeria

The music industry in Nigeria is occupying a vital position in the economy of the nation, providing jobs for individuals involved in the production and management of music. These individuals have been able to come together to form different music professional groups in the industry. The study is an investigation into the history of Remdel Music and Video Mart (a record label and music marketing outlets). This is achived through observation, interview, and random selection of some musicians signed under the label. The study has authenticated the fact that management of music and musicians exists in Nigeria, various professional and organization are involved in the management process, and Remdel Music and Video Mart is a true representative of a management organization of music and musicians in Nigeria, particularly in Southwestern part of the country; with Remdel Optimum Communications Limited (ROCOM) as the record label and Remdel Music and Video Mart as the marketing outfit.