URHOBO TRADITIONAL SONGS AND RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS:A MODERN DEFINITION.

Abstract

Urhobo traditional songs and religious teachings have a significant
impact on the country's cultural heritage. These songs serve as a reflection
of the Urhobo people's history, beliefs, and values. In recent times, there
has been an increasing interest in defining these traditional songs and
religious teachings in a modern context. This modern definition aims to
preserve the essence of these cultural elements while adapting them to
contemporary society. These songs often revolve around themes of love,
nature, and nationalism. The paper maintains that traditional songs with
didactic themes emphasize religious teachings of Urhobo tradition that
could come across as offensive, warn against immoral behaviour, and
deter society from adopting it. It advocates a preservation of our
traditional songs and their religious teachings. The paper recommends
that there should be a vigorous campaign to educate both old and young
people on the importance of preserving those aspects of our traditional
cultural values and the ethical values of traditional songs that can lead to a
better society. The paper revealed that Urhobo traditional singers have
the ability to respond to contemporary issues and proffer solutions to such
issues through the thematic preoccupations of their songs.