Contemporary Music and Dance in Nigeria: Morality Question

Abstract

Music and Dance are two inseparable duo that have co-existently been entangled in a web of symbiotic relationship over the years.  Towing a comparative path, Music and Dance, in view of their inter-relationship are appraised to ascertain certain levels of conformity in their semiotic modes – both as medium of communication and psychological influence.  However, the idea of utilitarianism suggests that the value of a thing depends on its use and not its beauty. It is in this vein that contemporary Nigerian music and dance have failed in their purpose of communication and influence especially as it affects the morality question.  In recent times, the flock of the 21^st Century contemporary Music and Dance have been characterized by such high vulgarity in language (lyrics) and dance patterns that has resulted to such permeability of moral decadence and sexualities among Nigerian youths and children; an impending menace which the core of this paper seeks to address by critically examining and analyzing some selected contemporary Nigerian Music and Dance in this respect, towards a good future for Nigerian audience.

Key words: Music, dance, morality, nudity, sex.