Integrity Journal of Arts and Humanities

This work looks at how the people of Amaeke Item in southeastern Nigeria have been communicating in their region without relying only on spoken or written language but through the use of Ikoro and Ekwe. The Ikoro and Ekwe are slit drums that serve as a powerful voice of the community. For generations, these instruments have functioned as a reliable source of information dissemination in the communities, but presently, this function is almost being replaced by public address systems, especially in the cities. This study adopted an ethnographic research method and obtained data through interviews and observations of traditional communication practices involving Ikoro and Ekwe in Amaeke Item. The data were analysed through content analysis using Symbolic Interactionism as the interpretive framework. This theory is used to re-emphasise the importance of these instruments as a salient medium of communication in Igbo land. However, like many native practices, they face challenges from modernisation and the increasing influence of digital communication, which often sidelines traditional knowledge systems. This study maintains that, despite what they face, the Ikoro and Ekwe continue to function as important symbols of cultural identity and traditional communication in Amaeke Item. They remain dominant signs of identity within the Igbo communication system and contribute to a larger struggle for African cultural recognition. This study recommends community-based documentation, digital archiving, cultural education, and appropriate integration of Ikoro and Ekwe into contemporary heritage preservation initiatives.