Abstract:
Events of socio-cultural significance are marked and hon
oured by society in different
ways. The activities that celebrate these events ar
e often multidimensional. In most
cases, they involve sounds and gestures that symbol
ise and communicate the ethos of the
practising community.
As a people’s economy changes, the activities that
mark significant stages in a person’s
social development change in form and content. Thes
e changes occasion and are articulated
through variations in music forms. In music, the co
ntext determines the content. This leads to
change in the functional music of each community. Y
et this music is an entity that expresses
and reflects life. When discarded, a wealth of knowledge is l
ost. In an economy where formal
education occupies a large portion of an individual
’s life, the school is a strong socialising
agent. With its role of imparting knowledge and ski
lls, the school is best placed to facilitate
familiarity with one’s cultural heritage.
Since music is a living treasure, its role in the p
ropagation of values and the need for
its preservation cannot be overemphasised. This pap
er proposes that this can be achieved
through practices within formal education in Kenya.