Decolonising the Concept of Environment in <i>Mbem</i> : An Igbo Indigenous Musical Style

Abstract Despite huge devastation of land in southeastern Nigeria, music scholarship in that region is yet to engage environmental crisis. This paper explicates environment through the concepts and practices of mbem , an indigenous musical style of the Igbo of southeastern Nigeria. Employing ethnomusicological and ecomusicological approaches, I argue that respect, cooperation and reciprocity, principles of Igbo Indigenous Ecological knowledge system, inform Igbo environmental perspectives and constitute sustainable environmental practices. This article contributes new theoretical perspectives to contemporary global debate on environmental sustainability, spiritual ecologies, and culture by its transdisciplinary conversation between music, environment, decolonialism, spirituality, and society in Igbo community.