The Intersection of Traditional and Modern Music

Music has been a part of our lives since god knows when; it's been a source of inspiration, connection to culture, roots, and transitions, as well as modern world vibes; it's a medicine to the soul and has impacted lives in diverse ways through the years. I'm a big fan of music, either while I sing or listen to one; it's just mind-blowing, and through the years I've come to realize that music can be classified into traditional music and modern music, which I'll love to talk about as regards my understanding of both.

Many people listen to music or sing for different purposes, either because it's their profession or because it's what connects them to their cultural traditions or religion. It could also be a perfect way to get away from difficult moments and experiences, as its lyrics have messages that not only minister to us but also connect us to a deeper rhyme.

For me, traditional music is a song or piece of music that finds its roots in the tradition or culture of a group of people. Such songs are usually sung in the native dialect of the group of people, and they either promote the genre of their kind of music or carry a message about their beliefs and the like. Traditional music is closely knitted into the people like a thread is knitted into fabric.

Tradition songs usually promote the culture and things about a group of people, and that's why you'll realize most traditional songs tend to use their traditional musical equipment, such as gangan (talking drums) for the Yoruba people, the oja flute for the Igbos, and the kakaki musical instruments of the Hausa. These are the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria, and when you see either of the instruments I just listed, what first comes to mind is the place where they are from and the kind of songs they usually go along with.

On the other hand, when we talk about modern music, we're referring to the latest type of music that trends presently in most places, such as R&B, hip-hop, afrobeat, and the like. This kind of music is usually based on the latest trends, slang, happenings, love, and the like. It's not necessarily traced down to a culture; although it can be identified as originating from one part of the world, it's not related to their culture.

These kinds of music make use of modern musical instruments such as drums, trumpets, violins, pianos, and the like. These are types of music that use more electronic instruments and touch to be perfect and also evolve with time, technology, and the trend of what's happening around the world at the moment.

Talking about whether one inspires the other, I'll say yes, one indeed does often inspire the other, and it's only in one direction, meaning only traditional music inspires modern music. In my opinion, it doesn't work the other way around because most traditional music is passed orally from one generation to another; it's more like rhyme and the like, while modern music tends to pick one of two of such lyrics to incorporate in their modernized song.

And as for whether they coexist together or not, they certainly do coexist. In one world today, I still often hear people sing traditional music, although it isn't as common or popular as modern music. But it's understandable that only a few people or groups sing traditional songs based on where they're from, while modern music has been infused into trend and is widely recognized.

All photos are taken from edited on canva.