Uncensor The Minstrel, Uncage Human Rights- A Case for the Actualization of Human Rights through Music Genre in Igboland–Nigeria

Abstract

Human rights realisation and protection require diversestrategies of achieving its protection and enhancement. Global and regional law instruments aimed at achieving realisation of fundamental rights abound. Such rights as they pertainto freedom of information,liberty and thought are well protected. This paper argues that before the emergence of human rights instruments, the traditional African society had used minstrelsto promote human rights. Minstrelsy provides a platform for musical creativity and social education, through traditional and oral literatures, the folktales, songs, proverbs, myths and legends were the prime repository of the wit and wisdom of the society. In recent years minstrelsy in Igboland has undergone drastic transformations due to censorship by the government and globalization. This paper examines the censored state ofminstrelsy in Igboland Nigeria and the art‟scontribution to the advancementof human rights.