Our Culture and Tradition Roundtable|| week 07

The Relevance Of The Metal Gong in Cultural Display

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INTRODUCTION

Welcome to another week of our roundtable meeting meeting. In the previous meeting (week 06) I presented some of cultural music instruments used when carrying out cultural activities. I would be discussing them one after the other in the coming weeks.

Today, I would be discussing about the use of metal gong in our cultural events. Before I proceed, I recognize the ethnic nationalities present in this community as follows:

The Igbos
The Yorubas
The Ibibios
The Hausas
The Ijaws
The fulanis
The Tivs
The kanuris
The Efiks

I recognize other ethnic nationalities that I could not mention but are existing in this community. My greetings to all of you and welcome.

Description Of The Gong

The gong is a metal traditional music instrument that is used to produce a complementary unique sound during tradition or cultural events. It comes in either long or short sizes and could also come in single or double. The gong when played by a skillful gong player, adds a sweet sound to the Tradition or Cultural music. This makes it an important musical instrument that is useful to the music players.

The metal gong is sold by vendors who deals in tradition or cultural music instruments. It is an affordable music instrument and it easy to learn by anyone who wishes to do so.

Names of the metal gong in various languages in Nigeria

Some names of the metal gong in Nigeria languages include:

The Igbos call it –––––– Ogene

The yorubas call it –––––– Agogo

The Hausas call it –––––– shentu

The efiks call it –––––– Nkong ekomo

The Ibibios call it–––––Nkwon

The Tivis–––––Kwen

...and other native names I could not mention.

TRADITION OR CULTURAL USES OF THE METAL GONG

The metal gong could be used for different purposes during the tradition or Cultural events. Some of the events where the metal gong is used include the following:

• War events:

During war events, the metal gong is used to igniting energy or morale of those engaged in the war. The sound prepares them to get ready for battle against the opponents.

• An instrument for security:

The metal gong could also be used for security and maintain peace in the land. When whenever the gong is sounded, it is either there is a security threat in the land or maintaining peace where there is chaos.

• An instrument for information:
  In the rural areas, the metal gong is used to spread important information to the people. Someone is assigned to the role of town-crier who is often seen with the gong to spread the information.

• For religious purposes:
  In religious places like the temple and the shrines, the metal gong is used to communicate with the divine being and invite their presence to the various activities.

• As a music instrument:

Cultural music players use the metal gong to add rhythm to the sound of their music. When a complete cultural music instruments are are set, the metal gong sounds so sweet that you can't afford to nod your head even if you can't dance to the music.

Conclusion

The metal gong is a useful instrument that could be used for varieties of functions. I believe that everyone comes from a village in a particular community. The community must have at least one metal gong used to spread information to people in the community.

Cultural music players, religious institutions makes use of the gong for their various activities.

This is the end this week's culture and tradition roundtable meeting. I will have another interesting item to be discussed in our next meeting.