Comparative Analysis of Wedding Praise Songs in Yoruba and Igbo Communities in Rivers State

Wedding ceremonies are among the most linguistically rich cultural events in Nigerian communities, with praise songs serving as central performative texts that affirm identity, celebrate lineage, and negotiate social bonds. This study conducts a comparative analysis of wedding praise songs in Yoruba and Igbo communities in Rivers State, South South Nigeria. Using an ethnomusicological and ethnolinguistic approach, data were collected through audio recordings and transcriptions of wedding songs performed at 15 Yoruba and 15 Igbo wedding events in Port Harcourt, Obio-Akpor, and Eleme local government areas. The study applies oral performance theory and comparative cultural analysis to examine structural, thematic, and linguistic parallels and contrasts between the two traditions. Existing literature on Nigerian wedding songs has largely treated Yoruba and Igbo traditions in isolation, with cross-cultural comparative studies being rare. This research fills that gap by foregrounding similarity and difference within a shared South South Nigerian context. The study investigates how each tradition constructs concepts of femininity, marital virtue, family honour, and community belonging through song language and performance style. It further examines how migration and intermarriage in Port Harcourt have facilitated musical and linguistic exchange between the two communities. Findings are expected to reveal both shared pan-Nigerian values and culturally distinct symbolic systems in wedding song traditions. Recommendations will address the documentation and cultural education value of wedding praise song archives. Keywords: wedding praise songs, Yoruba, Igbo, comparative analysis, Rivers State.