Music-Medium as a Sensitisation Tool in the Fight Against the Covid-19 in Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examines the contributions of the effective use of the music medium as a tool for sensitising the people of southwest Nigeria on the fast spread of the deadly Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) and the precautionary measures put in place. We examine two selected campaign songs by the Lagos and Èkìtì States governments, respectively, to create awareness. The study adopted a qualitative descriptive research design with the use of textual, verbal content analysis. The study is premised on Critical Theory and Cultural Studies as adequately adopted for analysis and discussion on optimising the music medium as a sensitising tool against COVID-19 within the purview of this paper. Findings revealed that the campaign music by Lagos State is affluent, as handled by a popular musician, Evang. Ṣèyí Lewis (Alápáńlá), while that of Èkìtì State had more pan-African campaigners, anchored by the Èkìtì State Troup of Arts and Culture, who, through wordings and messages of the songs, cultures, pass information of sensitisation the people on how to combat COVID-19. The selected songs were rendered in the Yorùbá language of southwest Nigeria.