DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE ARTS,

The study investigated educating society through television drama programme; a case study of Tchidi's Chekere Professor Johnbull. The objective was to identify and highlight the various ways through which good quality television drama uplift society via education and enlightenment. The study was based on cultivation theory of communication. The investigation was conducted within the Ekehuan Campus of the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. The study adopted the Survey research design, using the questionnaire as instrument for data collection. Through the random sampling technique, one hundred students were identified and sampled. Data was calculated in simple percentage and presented in tables. Findings review that television drama programmes are a veritable means of enlightenment and education. Also, the study found that television drama plays an explicit role in reshaping society. It is recommended that television drama productions should be properly funded by educational institution and NGOs. Producers should focus on themes that will enhance social cohesion.

This study explored the role of music education in preserving cultural knowledge in secondary schools within Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The research was motivated by the growing concern over the decline of indigenous cultural values and traditional musical practices among younger generations, largely due to the dominance of Western educational and cultural systems. The study sought to determine how effectively music education contributes to cultural preservation, the extent to which cultural content is integrated into music curricula, and the challenges hindering its implementation in secondary schools. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised students, music teachers, and school administrators across selected public and private secondary schools in Benin City. A total of 100 respondents participated in the study, selected through simple random and purposive sampling techniques. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of both closed and open-ended items. The data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, and mean scores, while qualitative responses were examined thematically. Findings revealed that music education serves as a vital tool for transmitting cultural values, traditions, and identity among students. It was discovered that traditional songs, folk dances, and the use of indigenous instruments play a crucial role in helping learners appreciate their heritage. However, the study also identified major challenges including inadequate instructional materials, lack of qualified music teachers, poor funding, limited time allocation, and insufficient emphasis on indigenous music in the curriculum. The study concluded that music education remains an indispensable means of cultural preservation and national identity formation, yet it requires deliberate efforts to be effectively implemented in secondary schools. It recommended that the government, educational authorities, and community stakeholders should collaborate to strengthen music programs by providing adequate resources, training teachers, revising curricula to reflect indigenous content, and promoting cultural music events in schools. Overall, the study emphasizes that promoting indigenous music education in secondary schools will not only preserve cultural knowledge but also foster unity, pride, and continuity of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage among the younger generation.

Adornment serves as a powerful form of communication within many cultures. This study investigates the profound relationship between adornment, identity, and power within the ritual practices of the Egba Yoruba people. It argues that dress and bodily embellishments are not merely aesthetic choices but are critical sites for negotiating social status, expressing spiritual affiliations, and reinforcing political hierarchies. Through a qualitative analysis of specific Egba rituals, this research demonstrates how the
deliberate selection and arrangement of clothing, beads, and other ornaments serve as a visual language. This language communicates an individual's lineage, age-grade, and role within the community, while also signifying a powerful connection to the divine. This research reveals that these forms of adornment are a dynamic tool used to contest, affirm, and reshape power structures, highlighting the complex interplay between material culture and social order. Findings show that specific traditional Egba elements help to preserve cultural identity, history, and individual expressiveness. Based on this findings this researcher
recommends that a deeper understanding and documentation of the cultural importance of these elements are essential for the preservation of this rich heritage. By focusing on the Egba context, this study offers a micro-level examination of a broader African phenomenon, contributing to a deeper understanding of how dress acts as a powerful agent in the construction and maintenance of cultural identity