Innovative Construction Of Wireless Agidigbo Traditional Musical Instrument: Using Experimental Design
Abstract
In today’s technology advancement, every society has their musical instruments which they are known
for in spite of marginalization, westernization and industrialization. Traditional musical instruments are
not spun out in the technology use. Therefore, the call for technological innovation in Nigeria traditional
musical instruments is indispensable. This study constructed a modernized and amplifiable wireless
Agidigbo musical instrument by giving an aesthetically upgraded facelift with advancement of technology
in the South Western Nigeria. The field experimental research design was adopted to seek pertinent
information on tools, materials, machine and process in the fabrication and design of wireless Agidigbo
from traditional musical instrument builders in Ibadan, Oyo State and Epe in Lagos State. Major research
instruments were interview, apprenticeship and participant observation methods. The study presented
real life construction of a wireless Agidigbo with real assistance of an exponent musical instrument
builder in Ibadan and data generated were analyzed using the content analysis technique. Finding
revealed different types of Agidigbo which range from the smallest (soprano), medium size (alto or tenor)
and the large (bass). The Agidigbo had four sides, a pair each of the same length and breadth,
which made it a rectangular-like box. Finding also showed that Agidigbo has a soundboard with a
perforated sound hole, and a base. The study revealed materials property, material size, thickness of the
wall of materials, length of material and resonance cavity as determinant factors in the construction of
wireless Agidigbo. Finding also deduced that size, shape, the thickness of the resonator wall and property
of the material selected for the construction of Agidigbo influenced its sound production. The study
concluded that wireless system was a viable material for constructing musical instrument and sound of
Agidigbo can be engineering through the alteration of frequency, Medium Density Fiberboard can be used for musical instrument manufacturing. The study therefore recommended that conservation
materials for Agidigbo musical instruments should be assessed before application to evaluate their impact
on sound as they may significantly affect the acoustic properties of musical instruments and thus alter
both their tangible and intangible identity.
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