Abstract
The Talking Drum and Shekere are an important instrument of communication in Traditional African society, including Nigeria. They serve as the voice of the whole community and communicate the aggregate of people’s desires not only in music but also in the whole sense of communication. The Talking Drum is fashioned to enhance grassroots mobilisation for developmental needs of the society, while the Shekere is designed to give rhythm to music and complement the output of other indigenous musical instruments. This paper undertakes a hermeneutical study of the Talking Drum and Shekere among the Yoruba. It argues that besides the understanding of the Talking Drum as the instrument of communication and Shekere as musical instrument, they can be regarded as living beings. Furthermore, the paper discusses the roles and significance of the Talking Drum as well as the making and uses of Shekere in Yoruba communities. The paper states that traditional methods of communication must be revived in order to give room for a free flow of information which is indispensable for any development to shrive.
Keywords: Talking Drum, Shekere, Indigenous Communication
Introduction
According to Ansu-Kyeremeh (1998), indigenous communication system is any form of endogenous communication system, which by virtue of its origin, form and integration into a specific culture, serves as a channel for messages in a way and manner that requires the utilization of values, symbolism, institution and ethos of the host culture through its unique qualities and attributes. Akpabio Enos (2003:8) says, indigenous communication system is the process and system which utilizes symbols, values and institution which directly appeal and readily connect with the people and thus enhance the variety and effectiveness of the message that circulates in the community.
Traditional channels of communication are many and they tend to serve specific purpose and others serve the interest of all in general. Though some are outdated, their use still lingers on today in our society and they are used to advise, inform, warn, encourage and incite people on what, when, where and how to act. Traditional communication is a vital human activity which touches every sphere of livelihood for meaningful development and peaceful co-existence in African society. It involves the acts of transmitting messages to channels which link people to their languages and symbolic codes through which information are impacted and shared from one person to another (Agbenu, 2007).
The inquisitive nature of human beings to explore, socialize and develop has given him the opportunity to interact with his social, economic and political environment. This interaction is made possible only by the process of communication. In African society, traditional communication is the oldest form of communication channels. It is traditional in nature and it is as old as the creation itself (Ayoo, 2007). Ebeze (2002) opines that traditional modes of communication was the product of interplay between traditional communities, customs and conflicts, harmonies and strife, cultural convergences and divergences, interpersonal relations, symbols, codes and moral traditions. It recognised the existence of traditional structures and the channels of communications used are verbal and symbolic aspects of interpersonal and group communication such as town crier, talking drum, gong, among others (Ugboajah, 1985).
This paper therefore focuses on the talking drums and Shekere as they are regularly used not only in churches but also in most traditional Yoruba societies, either for religious or traditional functions. This paper exploits the taxonomy of these instruments and their relevance in the Yoruba musical context and contents.