Contemporary technology in the production of ‘Ariwa’, and ‘Igede-Eze’ traditional musical instruments of Edem Community in Nsukka L.G.A. of Enugu State, Nigeria

Musical instruments of various shapes and sizes are produced in various parts of the country, Nigeria like every other country. Their productions depend on the areas they are found and/or are commonly used. In Edem community of Nsukka, some musical instruments were sparingly used by the people before the 20th century, but in recent times, some of such instruments have been modified, such that their mechanisms and roles in recent musical activities prompted the curiosity for this research. This paper aims at studying those special instruments and their socio-cultural roles in Edem community in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, which includes, the ‘Ariweze’ known as king’s flute, and ‘Igede-eze’ known as king’s drum, and the processes and mechanisms involved in their production. Whereby previously the king’s flute was produced with wood and kings drums were produced with wood and animal skin but in this contemporary times, plumbing tubs are used to produce the king’s flute while empty oil tins and tarpaulins are used in producing the king’s drum. The study adopted descriptive and historical methods of research, whereby interviews and indebt study were utilized to ascertain the socio-cultural roles of these aforementioned traditional musical instruments and their mechanisms, for proper documentation and for the purpose of preserving their rich cultural heritage.