We must do everything possible to guard African dance, music jealously- CBAAC DG, Amao

The Director-General, Centre for Black African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC), Mrs Olubunmi Amao has stated that all opportunities must be explored to guard African dance and music.

Amao said music and dance are African cultures being transmitted from generation to generation.

She said this during the African cultural festival titled: Celebrating the rich cultural diversity of black and African traditional music, dance and drama through the promotion of traditional music and rhythms, drumming, and dance steps, held recently in Ibadan.

The DG explained that over the years, both African music and dance have witnessed the tremendous transformation, adding that one of the prominent features of the transformation is the infusion of traditional elements in contemporary music.

Amao further explained that most contemporary musicians still use traditional African musical instruments and overlay them with contemporary rhythms and lyrics, thereby producing exceptional forms of music.

“We must do everything possible to see that we guard African Music and Dance jealously as it would be very right to say that music and dance are our cultures being transmitted from generation to generation.

“Over the years, both African Music and Dance have witnessed a tremendous transformation.

“One of the prominent features of the transformation is the infusion of traditional elements in contemporary music.

“What is particularly of interest here today is the fact that most contemporary musicians still use traditional African musical instruments and overlay them with contemporary rhythms and lyrics, thereby producing exceptional forms of music in addition to its richness.

“This is a hugely exciting form of expression for modern-day Africans and what we produce in terms of our music is loved and admired and danced to, the world over.

“This has contributed to making the African Culture very rich in no small ways.” She stated.

Meanwhile, The Former Oyo State Special Adviser admonished that traditional music and contemporary music should not be seen as rivals, but all-important since both have been employed to mutually reinforce each other and above all promote the Culture and heritage of the African people.

She concluded that arts have also been changing as time does; hence, the need to embrace some of the positive changes that come with the times in order to project the salient elements of African culture.

“Consequently, rather than view traditional music and contemporary music as rivals, they must be viewed as all-important since both have been employed to mutually reinforce each other and above all promote the Culture and heritage of the African people.

“I wish to conclude by stating that times have changed and so are the arts too. We must embrace some of the positive changes that come with the times, to project the salient elements of our Culture.” She said.