ABSTRACT
Church music in Africa is of necessity bicultural, not least because of its constituent elements. Music, as a cultural expression, speaks for, of and to cultural experiences and philosophies, elements that define and identify groups of people. The church (Christianity), having been introduced onto the continent of Africa in modern times from another cultural space and practice, is a complex entity that came with its own particular cultural expressions. For music as understood and experienced by the people of Africa to be identified with and as pertaining to the Church, a serious negotiation at conceptual, psychosocial and practical levels must ensue. This speaks to the adaptations, acceptance and ultimately accommodation of ideas that result in the artistic expression referred to as African church, Christian or religious music.1 This chapter visits ideas and reports from authors in different parts of the continent who discuss issues around the development and articulation of an artistic expression that is accepted as church music in various contexts. From a brief exposé of the practice and essence of music as a cultural expression in Africa, the chapter chronicles the introduction of Christianity and the encouragement of Christian music practice and adaptation through training in music, the contribution of trained musicians to the definition of the nature of church music and the effect of popular culture and its instruments of dissemination – the mass media. The chapter will conclude with an illustration of how music has changed over time.
