Social Function of Ibadan City Anthem in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Music in African societies is functionalized. This is true of anthems, which represent the belief, faith, purpose, and hope of a nation, a city, a school, or just an association. This paper focuses on the social functions of Ibadan City anthem. It brings out the place of Ibadan anthem in the daily functioning and activities in Ibadan as composed into the anthem. Three persons were interviewed. Also the content and textual analysis of the anthem was carried out. It was discovered that Ibadan anthem plays the role of education and enlightenment, prayer and petition, history, criticism and correction, longevity for Obas, praise and commendation and many others. The paper recommends that the anthem should be mastered, sung in all the schools in Ibadan city, and should be incorporated into all the activities that may be organized in the city be it conferment of chieftaincy titles, coronations, festivals and ceremonies like burial, and especially festival of arts of Oyo state.