Joel, S. A. (2021). Rehashing motherhood Yoruba anthems for positive transformation: A reflective nostalgia

Despite series of anti-social vices policies and programmes initiated by governmental and non-governmental agencies, complemented by musical efforts of some proactive Nigerian women musicians to curb the threatening vices, the protracted menace still remains opprobrium. In view of this, a reflective nostalgia for impactful past musical works becomes essential to salvage the present time being ravaged by social vices in order to secure the future focus of a transformed society. Therefore, the present study intends to examine two (2) remarkable evergreen anthems ‘Ọmọ mi seun rere’ by Christy Essien Igbokwe and ‘Ọmọ de o ẹ gbọ oun ti mo fẹ sọ’ by Funmi Adams to reminisce or rehash motherhood Yoruba anthems for positive transformation. The research design employed in this study is ex-post facto to determine the motherhood instruction in the two selected anthems for positive transformation. The two (2) purposively selected anthems were analysed, pointing out the motherhood guide instruction therein based on Lewin’s 1940 Change Theory as used by Sherri (2012) and Petiprin (2016). In addition, discography and library materials such as books, journal articles and internet sources were consulted. Findings show that the hub of the two (2) songs is basically to prepare and mould children for future endeavour. More so, social vices were not only outrightly condemned in the songs, but consequences of venturing into them were exposed. The study concludes that being in the lives of children today is the surest way of being in their memories tomorrow. This is why the study recommends that musical works that condemn vices and commend virtue which have gone into oblivion especially by women musicians, need to be revived, so as to complement policies and programmes initiated by governmental and non-governmental agencies in curbing social vices in Nigeria.