Abstract The entire life of an average Igbo (from cradle to grave) revolves round the arts generally and most especially the musical arts. Many aesthetic features of a wide range of the arts of music, dance and drama fill the lives and environments of Igbo rural communities. As the very essence of culture, folk music forms the basis of people’s tradition and identity. Transmitted orally between generations, it does not necessarily conform to the music of any other culture. However, in some cases it may share common factors, elements or characteristics with those of other ethnic groups around the country. Recent studies have shown that the state of Igbo folksongs in the twenty-first century is not very encouraging. Although a few Igbo musicologists have made arrangements of some of the folksongs, transforming them into art music of some sort, the music has been to a great extent neglected and relegated to the background by the present generation, especially the youth, such that it may eventually become a lost heritage. Unfortunately, many musicologists fail to realise this unhealthy development and consequently do very little or nothing to salvage the situation. This article therefore sets out to draw the attention of Igbo musicologists and all other stakeholders, while highlighting the attempts made so far towards ‘repackaging’ these folksongs for global acceptance and for posterity. Describing these trends holds the potential of creating a better future for the Igbo musical tradition and culture.

中文翻译：

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重新包装伊博民歌以供全球接受：恢复和保护尼日利亚社区的音乐遗产

摘要 一个普通的伊博人（从摇篮到坟墓）的整个生活都围绕着艺术，尤其是音乐艺术。各种音乐、舞蹈和戏剧艺术的许多审美特征充满了伊博农村社区的生活和环境。作为文化的精髓，民间音乐构成了人们的传统和身份的基础。代际口头传播，它不一定符合任何其他文化的音乐。但是，在某些情况下，它可能与全国其他族裔群体具有共同的因素、要素或特征。最近的研究表明，二十一世纪伊博民歌的状况并不十分令人鼓舞。虽然一些伊博音乐学家已经编排了一些民歌，将它们转化为某种艺术音乐，音乐在很大程度上被当代人，尤其是青年人忽视和退居幕后，以至于它最终可能成为一种失传的遗产。不幸的是，许多音乐学家没有意识到这种不健康的发展，因此几乎没有采取任何措施来挽救这种情况。因此，本文旨在引起伊博音乐学家和所有其他利益相关者的注意，同时强调迄今为止为全球接受和后代“重新包装”这些民歌所做的尝试。描述这些趋势具有为伊博音乐传统和文化创造更美好未来的潜力。许多音乐学家没有意识到这种不健康的发展，因此几乎没有采取任何措施来挽救这种局面。因此，本文旨在引起伊博音乐学家和所有其他利益相关者的注意，同时强调迄今为止为全球接受和后代“重新包装”这些民歌所做的尝试。描述这些趋势具有为伊博音乐传统和文化创造更美好未来的潜力。许多音乐学家没有意识到这种不健康的发展，因此几乎没有采取任何措施来挽救这种局面。因此，本文旨在引起伊博音乐学家和所有其他利益相关者的注意，同时强调迄今为止为全球接受和后代“重新包装”这些民歌所做的尝试。描述这些趋势具有为伊博音乐传统和文化创造更美好未来的潜力。