- Gbagyi cultural music
The Gbagyi people are largely found in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and its surrounding states of Nasarawa, Niger, Kaduna and Kogi, and the Gbagyi language belongs to the Kwa sub family group of languages under the Niger-Congo.
The Gbagyi people are lively and easy-going people, they make out time for fun and they play music at all occasions including death, some of their music include; Kabulu, Gagayakwo, Gwojegye, Mwala, Zhanya and Gagalusha, among others.
Information, knowledge and ideas are often communicated predominantly using music and cultural dance among the Gbagyi people.
Gbagyi people who were predominantly idol worshippers in the past, have undergone a lot of modification as a result of globalisation and civilisation with the embrace of Christianity and Islam by the people.
Some Gbagyi people spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kuje, Abaji and Kwali Area Councils, about Kabulu, Zhanya and Mwala music.
They said that communication through music had helped development in the rural areas.
They said that the various types of music had been used to pass on messages, which aided development and improved the health of the people.
Mr Nathaniel Gaza, the coordinator of Abuja Indigenous Liberation Movement in Kuje, said Gbagyi cultural music had taught children and adults to exhibit virtues, heroic acts and good behaviour.
Gaza said Kabulu music are popularly performed with special focus on issues that bring about peoples wellbeing, agriculture, commerce, religion and traditional practices.
According to him, Kabulu is a folk music and a medium used for the development of the community and for communication among Gbagyi people.
“Kabulu music is performed with a big local guitar made of calabash, just like a violin, with a flute, these instruments are harnessed and backed up with rich lyrics rendered by a lead vocalist, which helps to bring members of the community together.
“It serves as a viable tool to aid community development in areas such as entertainment, communal farming, socio-moral instruction, conflict resolution and general wellbeing.
“Significantly, Kabulu musical performance contributes to the society and encourages communal work such as collective farming called ‘fwapa’ used to bring people together and to inspire the farmers to work harder,” he said.
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