INSTRUMENTS

Contents & notes: what this topic covers

Under INSTRUMENTS, the JAMB Music syllabus expects you to study:

• 3. INSTRUMENTS: Nigerian traditional musical instruments: CLASSIFICATIONS
• (a) Aerophones
• (i) kakaki, algaita, sarewa, pedete, obati, farai, kaho, imar, mongom, taluk, damalgo, etc.
• (ii) oja, opi, pipilo, udu, nnuk, ofiom, akpele, etc.
• (iii) ekutu, teremagbe, ayeta-ode, odikakora, etc.
• (b) Chordophones
• (i) goge, kukuma, komo, kwamsa, kuntigi, lasha, molo, garaya, gurmi, etc.
• (ii) une, ubo-akwara, etc.
• (iii) goje, molo, etc
• (c) Idiophones
• (i) kundung, karawa, shantu, etc.
• (ii) oyo, ichaka, ogene, aja, ekpili, ekwe, udu, ikoro, ngedegwu, okpokoro, ekere, mgbiligba, alo, ubo-aka, etc.
• (iii) sekere, agogo, agidigbo, alọ, oma, aro, ukuse, eromwon, etc
• (d) Membranophones
• (i) ganga, tambari, taushi, banga, balle, kuntuku, kalangu, gangan-noma, tandu, etc.
• (ii) igba, nsing, ban yogume, emoba, etc.
• (iii) ipese, igbin, bata, bembe, gudugudu, kanango, dundun, gangan, etc.

Study notes & guidance

Study INSTRUMENTS using a recommended Music textbook that follows the JAMB syllabus. Work through the contents listed above one by one, make brief notes in your own words, and then practise as many questions on this topic as you can — in Music, understanding and steady practice matter far more than memorising. Use the objectives below as a checklist: if you can do each one confidently, you have mastered this topic.

Objectives — candidates should be able to

After studying INSTRUMENTS, you should be able to:

1. Identify the characteristic features of the classes of the musical instruments;
2. Classify them into their categories; and
3. Trace their origin.

These objectives are from the official JAMB syllabus. Use them as a checklist — if you can do each one confidently, you have mastered this topic.

Source: official JAMB UTME Music syllabus (IBASS, jamb.gov.ng). Reproduced for study use. Last checked: 17 Sept 2026. Always confirm the current syllabus on the official portal.