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ZUMBARA, BOLTSITSIYO, AND KOMIYA: TRADITIONAL WIND MUSIC INSTRUMENTS MAKING, SOCIAL VALUES AND CULTURAL MEANINGS AMONG BERTA AND THE GUMUZ PEOPLE, BENISHANGUL-GUMUZ REGION [Abstract ID: 0208-04]
Music is as old as man himself. The natural environment has inspired man and contributed to the development of musical practices and the making of musical instruments. Through the imitation of natural phenomenon like the sound of wild life (animals and plants), man came about his music ages ago. Traditional music and the making of musical instruments can describe a lot about past history and related cultural practices and philosophy of traditional societies. In this study, three wind musical instruments found in the Benishangul - Gumuz Region, which are not well-recognized, not well-studied and documented even if the area has a rich musical heritage, were assessed. It was intended to give some basic highlights on musical practices, making and their social values. The study reveals that musical performance and instruments were used in different social events, ritual ceremonies and work times. It also briefly defined that cultural music has also the power to strengthen social cohesion in the societies. Data was collected from May 5-24/2016 through field observation, interview and digital, textual and musical analysis. The paper focuses on discussing the making of the indicated wind traditional music instruments, Zumbara, Boltsitziyo and komiya which are found in the Benishangul -Gumuz Region. It also looks into the social values, cultural musical practices, the challenges that the musical instruments and practices face due to the modern musical influences and finally the summary and conclusion.