Egwu-ede and its Socio-cultural Implications in Ovoko Community, Enugu State, Nigeria

Egwu-ede is a traditional music of Ovoko community in Enugu State, Nigeria. It is usually performed during the Ede title-taking and other special ceremonies, and represents the common musical heritage of the Ovoko community with unique socio-cultural implications. This study sets out to discuss aspects of Egwu-ede (Ede music), and the socio-cultural implications to members of the Ovoko Autonomous Community, Igbo Eze South Local Government Area, Enugu state, Nigeria. Personal observation and interview methodologies were the means by which relevant information were gathered for the study. The study reveals that Egwu-ede is a symbol of dignity, prestige, nobility, and class, factors which informs the content of performance repertory. It also reveals that the socio cultural implications of Egwu-ede are socially understood and explainable in terms of the utilitarian functions of the music and musical paraphernalia. The paper concludes that Ede title-taking ceremony is hardly deemed complete without its (inalienable) musical traditions, which is due to the pervasive nature and importance of Ede music in carrying out the title-taking ceremony.