Traversing Sacred and Social: Song Texts and Sounds in Igogo Festival of Owo People

Music as an integral aspect of the cultural life in Nigeria is associated with sacred and social ceremonies such as festivals. However, the incursion of foreign culture has eroded several aspects of the Nigerian culture, especially, indigenous festivals. As such, not much attention have been given to the concept and contexts of music and song texts in its sacredness in indigenous Nigerian festivals. Against this backdrop, this study examines the sacred implications of song texts and music in its entirety as inherent in Igogo festival of the Owo people in Nigeria. Using the Cultural Relativism theory as theoretical backdrop, the study adopts qualitative descriptive design method with the aid of participant observation and oral interviews. The study reveals Igogo festival as a major festival among other indigenous festivals of the Owo people with inherent musical, social, and sacred intricacies. This festival has over time served as a medium for transferring knowledge of indigenous culture of the people through oral documentation and performance of songs even in the face of prevailing civilisation and culture neglect in contemporary Nigeria. Despite proliferation of foreign religions, the sacred rites embedded in this festival remains protected without deconstruction. While sounds, peculiar musical instruments, rhythms, transformative didactic songs and other musical tenets are found inherent and appreciated, they are taboo and forbidden in some contexts of the sacred festival. The onomatology of the name ‘Igogo’ is traced to ‘Agogo’, the Yoruba gong. Without doubt, this communal festival is capable of garnering national and global tourist attraction with proper attention from stakeholders.