KULIT

The Ngas people of Plateau State are known to be warriors and highly cultural and traditional people. Part of the things that characterized their unique lifestyle is music and entertainment. Whatever the season of the year is, there is always a form of music and entertainment that accompany it. Music is one of the major instruments used to bind the hearts of the people to their cultural norms and creates the sense of belonging and meaning.

Music fuses into both the religious and social life of the Ngas people and they carry it with them to other parts of the world. As such, music is used during worships and sacrifices to Nen (God), it is also the main form of socializing during festivals like Pusdung (Ngas festival of Arts and Culture), Mos Tar, Mos Lun, among other festivals as well as farming seasons and dry seasons. During celebrations like weddings or funerals or when men go out hunting or during wars, music is embedded in the fabric of the Ngas life.

There are different types of musical instruments used to convey cultural and social meaning and how they play out in the overall life of the Ngas people. These instruments have been crafted, horned, and modified from one generation to another and few people specialize in playing them. Some of these instruments are used only during sacred worship or sacrifices while others are for entertainment. Some are seasonal while others are played all year round.

Some of the common instruments of music and entertainment in Ngasland are: xylophones, flutes, horns, Ndengdeng, drum (banga), kulit, metallic dancing kits, etc.

Kulit is one of the musical instruments of the Ngas people. It is an aerophone instrument that possess the characteristic blend of a flute and whistle. It is made from mahogany tree call Ting Tan in Ngas language. The Igbo’s call it Oja.

Historically, Kulit is used in Ngas land for several purposes but mainly as a musical instrument and also for communication. According to the Legendary Ngas music icon, Nde Dantala Jatu Dewan, Kulit is used for music as well as communication. During an interview on Rhythm 93.7 FM Jos on the 20^th February, 2020, he said that it is used when a “Ngas man is missing or lost in the bush, you use it to invite him”. Kulit is also used as a “signal to call on everyone who is in war to come to a particular point”.

What it means is that there are times that men get missing in the bush, especially when an individual cannot find his way back home or to converge at a designated location. During such times, Kulit is sounded so that the person who is lost can follow the sound and meet up with his brethren. 

During wars, it is used to lunched an attack on the enemy or a call to retreat. It is also a tool to change strategy if the war is not going the way it was thought of. It is important that everyone who is at a battle field also pays attention so that the direction to advance or not is made known at all times.

Other uses of Kulit are for making announcements in the village. Once it is sounded, peoples’ attention is called and the announcer will proceed to pass the message verbally. Usually, the Ngolong (chief) will either pass a message directly to his servants to pass it across to the people or when he summons the people or a select group to come to his palace. 

Kulit is used as one of the musical instruments for entertainment. Because of its unique sound, it comes to play during displays or when it is used as a signal to dancers to change steps or just to make statements that only the dancers or the people familiar with it understands.

Kulit is used to even communicate with dogs when hunting. Once it is sounded, the dogs will run to the direction of the sound to meet the hunter. This is so important because the dogs have been taught to listen and follow the intention of the owner.