Rethinking Indigenous Aesthetics and Knowledge in Teni's Fargin and Flavour's Ada Ada

Abstract

Popular music in Nigeria serves as a vibrant platform for cultural expression, blending contemporary sounds with traditional elements for local and global audiences. This study examines the indigenous aesthetics and knowledge systems reflected in Teni's "Fargin" and Flavour's "Ada Ada" through lyrics, visual imagery and performance settings. Grounded in performance theory and Afrocentric perspectives, the paper argues that "Fargin" draws on Yoruba moral teachings of family loyalty, destiny and respect for parents, while "Ada Ada" celebrates Igbo marriage customs, womanhood and communal festivity. Together, the works function as living archives that translate ancestral wisdom into modern musical forms, challenge Western aesthetic norms, and serve as educational resources communicating African identity, ethics and social memory.