Open AccessMusic and Dance Therapy in Nigeria: The Task before the Potential Nigerian Music Therapists in the Twenty First Century
Author(s) -
Charles Onomudo Aluede,
Mariam Asabe Iyeh
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
voices
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1504-1611
DOI - 10.15845/voices.v8i1.446
Subject(s) - music therapy , dance , nigerians , relevance (law) , psychology , musical , task (project management) , electronic dance music , aesthetics , psychotherapist , visual arts , art , political science , management , law , economics
The use of music and dance as a palliative measure, diversionary means, audio-analgesic and to control pain, is found in the musical practices of Nigerians. These different categories of the use of music can be put into two classifications: the use of music as medicine and the use of music as accompaniment to other healing rites. This paper examines: definitions of music therapy, the concept of illness in the contemporary Nigerian society, and music therapy and its social relevance. While highlighting the emerging issues before the Nigerian music/dance therapists, this paper ends by making some suggestions aimed at enhancing the present level of practice in Nigeria.