Musical ensemble of Umuchiagwu Youth Association and Community Development in contemporary Nigeria: A descriptive and analytical study

Musical practices and their role in community development have long been an area of discourse, relevant in current scholarship and ethnomusicology in general. This paper seeks to study the musical ensemble of ‘Umuchiagwu Youth Association’ and its role in community development. This study employed historical and descriptive methods using interviews and content analysis for gathering data for the problem under investigation. The researcher observed that besides initiating physical development in the community, the group supports the safe-guarding and maintaining of peace in the community. In the course of this research, the researcher found out one major fact about this group, which strengthens the group’s sustainability. This is a very distinct and outstanding fact that is different from every other kind of musical ensemble in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State. One of the key findings about this group is that, they do not depend on just contributions and levies for the development of their community but always generate revenue from theproceeds emanating from the community’s forest whereby they plant and cut down trees and sale. The essence of this study is not just for archiving purpose but for the sake of understanding how musical concept can sharpen the thinking faculty and mindset of the youths in a positive direction especially in this contemporary Nigeria. This paper found out that, this musical group (‘Umuchiagwu Youth Association’) of Umuchiagwu community in Edem-ani, through their musical performances and patriotic spirit are able to carry out theduties and responsibilities of developing their community. This, in essence, should be encouraged by every culture-loving individual especially academics in the area of ethnomusicology.