Traditional communication can be defined as a communication which involves all the social conventions and practices, modes of and social organizations whose chief concerns may not be with communication but with other activities.

Traditional communication is perhaps the most important way by which ruralities communicate among themselves and in effect with others. In rural society, this is for a large majority, the only means of getting information about event outside.

Traditional media of communication is a complex system of communication which pervades all aspects of rural and urban life in Africa. It is complex in the sense that, it is not only one system but a network of other systems which operate at various levels of society. In reality, it is simple in its operation and it depends on trust for its credibility.

The traditional media of communication and its effectiveness in rural development depends on the mode of their communication. The people in rural settlement make use of instrumental {e.g idiophones, aerophone, stratify, iconographic, extra-mundane, visual and institutional as their effective tools of communication. Here, the instrumental mode of traditional communication consist of aerophones idiophones, membranephones symbolography.

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Demonstrative mode of traditional communication consist of music and signal and iconograpics in communication with the people. Here we are made to believe that music is not just a medium of entertainment but a vehicle to spread ideas and doctrines. Iconographic is a mode of traditional media of communication consists of the use of objects and flora media. It is a signification which the object refers to a thing, event or concept. For example the presentation of a bowl of kolanut and charcoal means acceptance to some people, pigeon or fowl, egg, white egg, feather, cowries, mimosa, flowers ,scriptures etc. have specific meanings or ideas to members of other communities. Extra-mundane mode of traditional communication is a mode which is believed to take place between the living and supernatural or Supreme Being. On the surface it usually seems unidirectional participants at religious crusades, prayer sessions, rituals and other religious and pseudo- spiritual activities during this period, there is often a form of feedback which may come through interpersonal process, physical revelations or magical and other worldly verbalizations.

Obituary, and in memoriam notice and tomb stone messages are the graphic forms of this mode of communication. Among some of the other well-known forms are incantation chant, ritual, prayer, sacrifices, invocation, conjuration, witchcraft, exorcism vision and contemplation.

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Visual mode of traditional media communication consists of the use colors and dressing, appearance and general emotions and attitudes. The user of visual communication has the advantage of pictorial communication i.e through the use of the speed of Impact of the message and the freedom of the visual information about linguistic barriers associated often with written and spoken language. Institutional mode of traditional communication consists of the use of certain traditional institutions symbolically. The most important are marriage, chieftaincy tittle, secret, societies, shrines, mask and masquerades. For example, the marriage institution and all ceremonies pertaining to it are combination of secular celebration spiritual akin to Christian ritual and cultural communication of the norms and mores of the society or group.

The traditional media of communication as effective tools in rural development include some of the key functions of the system.

Rural Mobilization: it mobilizes the people at the grassroots level towards community development and national consciousness. Serious- minded and mass – oriented program never succeeded without the active involvement of the practitioners within the health the traditional system.

Source of Information: it is a source of cultural, political, health and other educational and enlightenment programs for the masses, leading them towards self- actualization and national development.

Source of Entertainment: it is the dominant source of entertainment through arts and cultural festivals, musical show, dramatic performances by choral and masquerade groups and other musical and theoretical groups.

Promotes Unity in Diversity: certainly, traditional communication has promoted intra-cultural, inter-cultural and other communication over the years leading to group and national unity. Yam and ekpo festivals are examples of large traditional settings which bring inter-cultural and communication.

Defines Culture: Many of the traditional communication media are culture specific. Their mode of communication goes along way to define their culture and who they are. It also differentiates them from other culture .

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Traditional and Modern Communication Media a Comparative Study in Afikpo South Local Government Area, of Ebonyi State

The role of communication in the society is indispensable and concerted effort must be made to achieve effective information dissemination, this is to ensure that citizens and the public are adequately informed. This is because an informed individual, groups or society is an enlightened society..

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