Author(s)

Johnson Akpakpan¹, Mary Johnson Akpakpan²

¹Department of Music, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria.
²Department of Music, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.

In the traditional African society, morality was one of the guiding elements that engineered the social, political and economic spectrums of the people. Music, as well as other traditional institutions, was used in achieving these goals. Mbobo was one of such institutions in Ibibio land. The naturalistic research method was used in this study. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of music in cultivating or promoting moral values in Ibibio society, using Mbopo institution as a case study. In treating this topic, an in-depth assessment of the various activities of the institution was carried out, such as the reasons girls are fattened, the payment of bride price or dowry, functions of the institution, activities carried out in the fattening room. The outing ceremony, the role of music, as well as its instrumental resources will also be looked into. The study examined Mbopo traditional institution from its historical, social and cultural contexts. The study revealed that Mbopo institution was and remains a veritable medium for maintaining morality among young women in the society.

Music, Mbopo, Morality, Womanhood, Traditional Institution, Cultural Contexts

Akpakpan, J. and Johnson Akpakpan, M. (2018) Mbopo Institution and Music in the Cultivation of Moral Values in Ibibio Society, Nigeria. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 6, 46-56. doi: 10.4236/jss.2018.65004.