Charles O. Aluede

The Ujie Music and Dance of the Esan: in Edo State, Nigeria Charles O. Aluede

This study examined Ujie music and dance, its performance context and practices in Esanland. In the course of this investigation, it was discovered that Ujie a-one-time traditional musical genre used strictly during burial ceremonies now has different variants. These variants are very far from the original Ujie in terms of ensemble membership, the use of musical instruments, song texts and performance contexts. Although no culture is stagnant, the change in musical taste of the Esan has become too rapid and so spells much doom for traditional Ujie because of the uncontrolled craze for foreign musical genres It was discovered that within the varied collections of songs used during burials in Esan, the traditional Ujie type is unique. This uniqueness is palpable in the craftsmanship involved in the musical condiments employed in Ujie songs. The study concluded that there is an urgent need to resuscitate this genre before it vanishes into oblivion completely.