ETHNOMUSICOLOGICAL STUDY OF NÀÌJÍRÍÀ DÌDE AS A MEDIUM FOR NATIONAL UNITY AND IDENTITY

Abstract

This paper presents a multidisciplinary musicological analysis of Nàìjíríà Dìde (Nigeria Arise), a choral composition originally written in 1983 by the prominent Nigerian composer,Mr Sunday Akinfolarin Makinde. Drawing on ethnomusicology, cultural history and the study of political theology, the paper examines how this musical piece encodes Nigerian post-independence nationalism, the sonic and structural features of West African choral music, and a theology of collective moral accountability. Through sonic and lyrical analysis, the paper demonstrates how Makinde blends indigenous Yoruba harmonic practices and rhythmic vitalities with Western classical choral traditions.The lyrical analysis situates the composition within the turbulent socio political climate of Nigeria's Second Republic in the early 1980s, which was a period marked by economic transition, democratic precarity, and intense debates over national identity. The study argues that Naijiria Dide functions not merely as a patriotic anthem but as a structured artistic argument for civic responsibility, spiritual humility and communal solidarity. The paper concludes by drawing attention to the enduring role of formal choral composition and collective singing as active agents in the ongoing project of postcolonial African nation building, social critique, and cultural preservation.