




































198 

 

 

 

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRADITIONAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND 

SONG TEXTS 

 

 

Onwuka, Ugo A. 

 

Department of Music, Nwafor Orizu College 

of Education Nsugbe. 

 

& 

 

Oguoma, Patience U. 

 

Music Department, Alvan-Ikoku Federal 

College of Education Owerri. 

 

 

 

ABSTRACT 

Man, no doubt, is a musical creature because he was found to derive great pleasure in using 

different parts of his body in producing artistic or musical sounds. As time went on in the 

history of his development, he began to explore his environment by fashioning some sound 

producing objects to substitute for his body parts. These objects, now referred to as musical 

instruments are used for producing a variety of musical sounds. In every culture, they differ 

in many dimensions which include concept, design and size, material of make, technology 

and function. In the African context, they have some remote or established connections with 

verbalized musical sounds commonly known as song texts. This paper identifies these 

significant connections and brings to limelight how musical instruments and song texts affect 

each other for the benefit of the African musicologists.  

INTRODUCTION 

From the large body of available literature concerning African music, studies on song texts of 

different cultures abound. There are also research reports on the origin, material resources, 

technology, classification, socio-cultural significance, functions and uses of African musical 

instruments. Observations, however, show that much has not been written about song texts 

and musical instruments more so, on their significant relationships. Having identified this as 

one of the less explored aspects of music making in Africa, it is considered the focus of this 

paper as it discusses their linguistic, musical, technological, contextual and cultural 

relationships.  

 

Linguistic Relationship 

Awka Journal of Research in Music and the Arts (AJRMA) Vol. 9 2013 



199 

 

Here, we are concerned with language in music relationship. Since it has earlier been 

established that in African music practice, every melody naturally grows out from the speech 

melody or contour of the text, it then means that language affects music as much as music 

also affects it. According to Bright (1963), both language and music are human behavioural 

means of expression which are characterized by overlapping mutual influences in social 

communication. In realization of this fact, Blacking (1970) describes music as “signals and 

symbols of human experience in culture which relate musical form to its social and cultural 

content” (p. 69). Similarly, Merriam (1959) explains that “almost all songs have words, 

whether or not those words are actually sung, so that when a song is played upon an 

instrument, words are automatically conceptualized, although they may not be verbalized”  

(p. 57). This implies that most African musical instruments are constructed for 

communication in performance situations. When melodic instruments, as extensions of vocal 

experiences, are involved in reproducing melodies of songs or melodic fragments, they 

equally trace the natural curve or contour of the relevant texts. In so doing, instrumental 

melodies so produced could be word-borne (logogenic), emotion-borne (pathogenic) or 

music-borne (melogenic). If we reason along the same line with Akpabot (1986), we can 

accept that the two main types of instrumental rhythms in African music derive from this 

overlapping relationship between language and music. He observed that percussive rhythms 

are produced by such percussive instruments as the gong, drum and rattle while melodic 

rhythms are produced on the melodic instruments. A closer examination of these rhythms 

reveals that they are strongly related to the stresses and movement of conceptualized words 

of the text which also produce inherent speech rhythms. If we use the first phrase of an Efik 

song text: sob ubok wat inyang, as an example, the regular rhythmic accents of duple timing 

fall on sob, wat, ke and di thus:  

 

                 

When the beats are properly distributed to their correct rhythmic divisions, the 

instrumentalist will be able to establish clear basis for drawing his accompanying patterns 

purely from built-in speech rhythms. In fact, we can conclude that each of the two rhythmic 

types as earlier mentioned is mostly determined by speech rhythms which Nketia (1974), 

refers to as “the durational values of the syllables of words” (p. 180). Given the fact that 

these instruments are provided with linguistic or communicative attributes, they are 

advantageously used for communication both in musical and extra-musical contexts. In this 

wise, they are designated as “talking instruments” or “speech surrogates”. Exemplifying 

these are ilu, the hourglass drum of the Yoruba people; ikon eto, the four-note xylophone of 

the Ibibio and ekwe or ikoro, the wooden drum of the Igbo people just to mention but a few. 

As Akpabot (1986) puts it, “all African drums talk – some more eloquently than others 

depending on their size, shape and construction. The chief difference between African and 

European instruments lies in their functions and use” (p. 19). Since African musical 

instruments are also used for imitating and reproducing phrases and proverbs common to the 

area; they are, therefore, consciously tuned to the talking range of the people. When used 



200 

 

singularly, a master player conveys verbal messages or matters of personal or social 

importance through melo-rhythmic cues or codes. While deriving clues from their melodic 

contour, these cues are not only understood by members of the community but also given 

literary meanings. Through such an artistic medium, a verbal statement, phrase, proverb or 

praise-name can be transmitted by any of these instruments. 

In another development, some like the wooden drum (ekwe) and the big gong (alo) are also 

used for regulating times and seasons, signaling danger, summoning emergency meetings or 

by the town-criers for securing attention of the people when important public announcements 

are being made in the community. This communicative or socio-linguistic function of some 

musical instruments is, however, very important though secondary to the musical. It is 

equally symbolic of the communicative relationship between musical instruments and song 

texts. In the light of the foregoing, therefore, we can establish that song texts and musical 

instruments have either structural and tonal relationships or linguistic and communicative 

connections. 

Musical Relationship  

Bright (1963) acknowledges that “languages display regular patterns of high-pitched and 

low-pitched syllables, loud and soft syllables, long and short syllables; and different 

languages give different emphasis to these factors” (p. 27). In this music in language 

relationship, we can see that the musical elements of pitch, dynamics, duration and, of 

course, tone colour (timbre) are also basic parameters of speech and can equally be realized 

on some African musical instruments through coded cues. Akpabot (1986) maintains that “an 

instrumental melody many times, follows the vocal pattern which is inflectionary in 

conception: this means that a sentence as previously mentioned, can only have one curve if it 

is to maintain its meaning” (p. 11). Reasoning along the same line, Merriam (1964) states 

that “language clearly affects music in that speech melody sets up certain patterns which 

must be followed at least to an extent in music” (p. 188). If we accept that instrumental music 

is summarily, an extension of the vocal experience and that African melodic instruments are 

tuned in respect to the tonal inflections of speech, it then means that vocal music cannot be 

divorced from instrumental music. This is because the latter derives from the former. The 

illustrative figure below represents the coded cue for a security imperative which some Igbo 

vigilante groups play on the wooden drum to compel people to stay indoors at odd hours of 

the night:  

                             

While attending to the style of attack and release, an artistic execution of this cue, will 

produce the same desired effects and elements as in speech. In so doing, the two parameters 

of pitch and duration will be clearly exhibited as while the realization of the other two will 

depend on the medium and style of execution.  

Furthermore, it is common knowledge that pitch in African music is not standardized. This is 

because it is closely related to the language behaviour of a given culture. To this end, African 



201 

 

scales are simply constructed by ear and consist of non-tempered pitches whose choice and 

arrangements are determined by some regional characteristics. Akpabot (1975) reports that in 

Central Africa, “the speech melody derived from the sentence, wili pai sa sunge, is used to 

tune the harp to the note of the pentatonic scale,” (p. 5) thus:  

                     

In a similar development, the musicians of Ekeremgba music ensemble of Ngwa use the 

speech melody of what they call ilu nkwa in tuning their set of baton skin drums. Such 

phrases which are used either in the workshop or on the stage, serve the individual ensembles 

the same purpose the „concert a=440 c.p.s.‟ serves the Western symphony orchestra. For 

example, when samples of the pentatonic scale mode are closely examined, noticeable 

differences in the choice and arrangement of their pitches may be found. Nevertheless, the 

striking thing about the examination is that the basic principle of the scale mode remains the 

same. Stressing this fact, Akpabot (1998) states that “in African music, any five notes, 

regardless of how they are arranged and their intervallic relationships, comprise a pentatonic 

scale” (p. 28). While tuning the tonal instruments, therefore, a lot of factors including 

linguistic, structural and regional characteristics come into play. They really help to 

emphasize the serious relationship between the musical instruments and song texts. 

In solo singing, poem recitations and song narratives, some musical instruments like the 

hourglass drum, wooden drum, sanza and the chordophones are craftily employed for 

providing suitable rhythmic accompaniments or background melodic fragments over which 

the griots sing or recite. Moreover, the instruments do not only support, embellish and supply 

musical interludes but also stress the main themes in the performance through 

communicative dialogue. In so doing, they serve to add some dramatic dimensions that 

heighten the performances while providing the performers an unassuming atmosphere and 

time to organize the succeeding sections of their creative works. 

Technological Relationship 

According to Echezona (1963) “life has a melodic or rhythmic orientation, and again, no 

event happens that is not associated with music” (p. 12). Stressing this same fact, Nketia 

(1963), said that “for the African, music and life are inseparable, for there is music for many 

of the activities of everyday life as well as music whose verbal texts express the African‟s 

attitude to life, his hopes and fears, his thoughts and beliefs” (p. 4). In the spirit of the 

foregoing postulations, we are given to understand that in Africa, all aspects of music 

making, including the conception, design and technology of traditional musical instruments, 

are to a large extent, influenced by a lot of human behaviours and thought processes. In fact, 

Okafor (2005) thinks that “makers of African musical instruments rely on their eyes, sense of 

pitch, ears and on tradition for the construction” (p. 160). It should then be noted that some 

African musical instruments are primarily conceived either as speech surrogates or as 

extensions of those body parts that are used for interpreting vocal melodies or for stressing 

the rhythmic patterns of life.  



202 

 

 

In the Ufie music ensemble of the esoteric Igbo for example, the pair of wooden drums is 

regarded as a symbolic representation of an initiate and his wife who always engage in a 

romantic dialogue in performance situations. What readily comes to mind here is that the pair 

is not only musical but also communicative. With this understanding, each of the drums is, 

therefore, designed and constructed to assume a hollowed cylindrical wooden body fitted 

with two sounding lips (one high, one low); and two rectangular sound holes through which 

the hollow was chipped out to make for improved resonance. In addition to the high, 

medium, low tones that could be obtained from the sounding lips; the body of each drum 

when rasped, also produces muted sound that could represent the drop tone, heave or 

aspiration in Igbo speech. Provided with these special features which characterize the 

typology of African language, therefore, the drums are then melo-rhythmically used by the 

people to imitate their speech patterns and rhythmic movements on one hand and to convey 

through coded cues, some important literary information on the other. It then implies that the 

technological processes of the said drums and most of the other percussive instruments are 

greatly influenced by the linguistic framework of a given culture. 

This technological relationship is also evident in the construction of some melodic 

instruments like ọja (notched flute) and opi (horn). Since they are primarily designed for 

reproducing melodic fragments which trace the contour of some texts, they are tuned to the 

talking range of the people. This, perhaps, could be why they are equipped with narrow 

compasses. Since it is now common knowledge that African melodies normally grow out of 

the speech rhythm and speech melody of relevant texts, they are by nature short and 

repetitive. So, if any such tune is to be extra-verbally reproduced on an instrument, it must be 

on one that is equipped with melodic, rhythmic and linguistic properties. This explains why 

these melodic instruments are so built and employed for the same purpose. We can then 

conveniently say that in African traditions, the conception, design and construction of 

musical instruments are by and large related to song texts. 

Among some ethnic groups, people claim and also believe that it is only trees which grow 

along roadsides or near homesteads that can provide better resource materials for 

constructing „talking/musical instruments‟. Although this could be one of the popular myths 

surrounding African music practice, suffice it to say that it was informed by the assumption 

that such trees overhear human conversations and by association, have the ability to 

reproduce their language patterns with discernible tonal figurations. It is in the spirit of this 

thought process that the wood from ọma and ọpa trees are to the Yoruba people, best for 

constructing drums as wood from ụkọ and okwe are to the Igbo, best for making xylophone 

slabs. 

Contextual Relationship 
In most parts of Africa as Euba (1977) observes, “much of the traditional music is realized 

within the context of social ceremonies” (p. 11). Agu (2000) acknowledged that in such 

contexts, “music not only serves specific purposes and functions but also enriches and 

glorifies events of life.”  Okafor (2005), therefore, says that: 

In African culture, music is an entity rather than a mere mental creation or 

conception. It reflects and interprets the man in a specific environment and is often 



203 

 

the key, which opens the gates to spiritual, mental, emotional, psychological, social 

and mystic realms. (p. 88) 

Stressing this same fact, Nketia (1975) admits that: 

Every musical type played has a tradition behind it, a tradition which governs its 

mode of performance, its repertoire, its choice and use of musical instruments as well 

as traditions that govern the context in which it should be played. (p. 48) 

 We are thus given to understand that the meaning and content of African traditional music 

are to a large extent, determined by the context in which it is performed. This could be ritual 

or non-ritual. Apart from the issue of tone colour which bears upon the instrumentalist, 

selection of instruments is primarily linked with the nature of his musical creation. Nketia 

(1975) further emphasizes that “the conception of a musical piece and details of its form and 

context, are influenced not only by its linguistic and literary intention, but also by the 

activities with which it is associated” (p. 206). In ritual contexts for example, the texts of the 

songs usually connote very serious and solemn subjects. In such circumstances, it could be 

seen that, like the theme, the instrumentation, is extremely restricted. Akpabot (1986) tells us 

that in the ritual worship of Sango, the god of thunder, the culture constituted only four 

drums namely: iya ilu bata, emele ako, emele abo and kudi, which the Yoruba worshippers 

symbolically use in accompanying their praise songs, incantations, supplications and 

intercessions. Here in context, it is apparent that the subject of the song text, as well as its 

instrumentation, is exact and definite. The story is, however, different in non-ritual situations. 

Such circumstances are characterized by secularization, relaxed atmosphere and flexibility in 

the instrumentation as revealed in the preponderance of percussive instruments other than the 

drums. So far, what really emerges from the foregoing is that context of musical activity is 

seen as a major determinant of its subject and song text. This, in turn, influences the melody 

which characterizes the song type and the song type finally determines the instrumentation. 

 

Cultural Relationship 

It is worthy to note that both song texts and musical instruments are closely linked to culture. 

This is because examples of song texts and particular musical instruments clearly point to the 

culture which they are part of. Given the fact that African song texts are usually in the local 

language of particular cultures, they constitute effective media through which histories of 

genealogies, past rulers and patriarchs, legends and mythologies can be taught or recounted. 

This explains why they are seen as embodiments of oral traditions through which people 

learn of their glorious past, mythical origins, beliefs and thought processes. Merriam (1964) 

observed that “mythology, legend and history are found in song texts, and song is frequently 

used as enculturative device” (p. 208).  Akpabot (1986) also said that “myths and legends are 

integral parts of the people‟s way of life,” (p. 96) and are used in a given society to regulate 

and reinforce the cultural traits and daily life of the people. Just as proverbs, maxims, 

mythical references of valour and legendary powers of past heroes and ancestral gods are 

borne through song texts, so are they encapsulated in the evolution, technology and 

organizational practices of African musical instruments.  



204 

 

Against this background, one can conveniently say that some musical instruments and their 

symbolic sounds have grown to be associated with particular cultures. In Nigeria for 

example, it is no secret that the hourglass drum (ilu) is admittedly synonymous with the 

Yoruba culture, where it is dominantly used not only as a musical instrument but also a 

communicator in social and ceremonial situations. The story seems to be the same with the 

giant wooden drum (ikoro) as well as the wooden flute (ọja) in Igbo culture while the double 

reed flute (algaita) and the elongated trumpet (kakaki) tend to indicate connections with the 

Hausa/Fulani culture. As one cannot divorce musical instruments from music making, it is 

equally impossible to separate song text from musical instruments because they are not only 

closely related but also significantly linked to the people‟s way of life.  

Conclusion 
In this discourse, an attempt was made to identify and outline some of the significant 

connections between musical instruments and song texts in the African cultural context. As a 

modest attempt, therefore, it cannot claim to have exhausted all the possible links owing to 

obvious reasons. Nonetheless, it can be seen from the foregoing, that musical instruments and 

song texts are incompatible aspects of African music that constitute the most diversified 

source of information on the beliefs and thought processes of the people, their social and 

artistic values, musical practices and structures, cultural and historical traditions, as well as 

language and communication. These and more, led Africans to believe that music is an 

essential part of the living process. As one of those aspects of African music that has not 

been fully explored, there is no reason why it should not be properly investigated, sustained 

and improved upon by the present day researchers and ethnomusicologists. They should, 

therefore, collaborate with the traditional music practitioners to provide ways of creating 

greater awareness about the modus operandi of these significant links between musical 

instruments and song texts. When this is done, it is hoped that it will not only offer the people 

a better comprehension of the subject matter but also increase their appreciative capacity of 

the same. 

 

References 

Agu, D. C. C. (2000). Music in the Nigerian cultures: Types and practices. In N. Ojiakor;  

            G. C. Unachukwu & A. Obiajulu, (Eds.), Challenges of National Growth and                                         

             Development in Nigeria, 79-88. Enugu: John Jacobs Classic Publishers. 

Akpabot, S. E. (1975). Ibibio music in Nigerian culture. Michigan: State University Press. 

__________ (1986). Foundations of Nigerian traditional music. Ibadan: Spectrum Books. 

---------------   (1998). Form, function and style in African music. Lagos: Macmillan Nigeria 

            Publishers.  

Blacking, J. (1970). Deep and surface structures in Venda music. Dyn. 1, 69-98. 

Bright, W. (1983). Language and music: Areas for co-operation. Ethnomusicology, 7(1),  



205 

 

         23- 37.  

Euba, A. (1977). An introduction to music in Nigeria. Nigerian Music Review, 1, 1-21.  

Feld, S. (1974). Linguistic models in Ethnomusicology. Ethnomusicology, 18(2), 192-217. 

Merriam, A. P. (1959). African music. In W. R. Bascom and M. J.  Herskovits, (Eds.),

 Continuity and Change in African Cultures, 49-86. Chicago: Phoenix Books.  

---------------- (1964). The anthropology of music. Evanston: Northwestern University Press. 

Nketia, J. H. K. (1975). The music of Africa. London: Victor Gollancz. 

Okafor, R. C. (2005). Music in Nigerian society. Enugu: New Generation Books. 

 

 


