The Role of Highlife Music in Shaping Cultural Identity Among Youth in Enugu State

This study examines the role of Highlife music in shaping cultural identity among young people in Enugu State, located in Nigeria's South East geopolitical zone. As globalisation continues to exert significant influence on indigenous musical traditions, concerns have grown about the erosion of cultural heritage among younger generations. This research investigates how exposure to Highlife music influences cultural awareness, pride, and self-identification among secondary school and undergraduate students in Enugu. Drawing on ethnomusicological principles and cultural identity theory, the study adopts a descriptive survey design. Data are collected through structured questionnaires administered to 200 respondents selected via stratified random sampling from five public and private institutions in Enugu. Supplementary data are obtained through observation of live Highlife performances and informal interviews with student respondents. Findings are expected to reveal the extent to which Highlife music functions as a vehicle for transmitting Igbo values, language, and social norms to younger audiences. The study also explores the tension between traditional Highlife and contemporary Afrobeats in the cultural preferences of urban youth. Recommendations will address the need for music curriculum reform that integrates indigenous genres at the secondary and tertiary levels. This research contributes to ongoing discourse on music education and cultural sustainability in post-colonial Nigerian institutions. Keywords: Highlife music, cultural identity, Enugu State, youth, indigenous music.