The Influence of the African Religious and Cultural Context and Its Impact on Lutheranism: The Case of Greater Sekhukhune District Municipality.

Morakeng Edward Kenneth Lebaka
University of Zululand, Kwa-Dlangezwa Campus; Department of Creative Arts; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences;

Abstract

In Greater Sekhukhune District Municipality, traditional religion has played a significant role in transforming Christianity by confronting it with the decisive issue of indigenization. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to examine the inter-religious relations among Christianity and African Traditional Religion (ATR) to explore how African religious and cultural values have impacted on Christian – ATR relations within the municipality, and how the latter has, also, been affected by the former. The primary research question raised in this study is: what is the relevance of indigenous people’s music in the existing (Lutheran) liturgy? The study employed a contextual approach and data was collected through observations, face-to-face interviews and video recordings of rehearsals and performances during social ceremonies. Secondary sources included published books and Journal articles. The investigation has revealed that the dimensions of rhythm play an important role to contextualize and Africanise the existing (Lutheran) liturgy, in order to make the missionary qualities of worship an integral part of mission work. During the study it was also observed that musical creativity and musicality in the visited churches embrace other elements such as the capacity for becoming absorbed emotionally in music and the ability to enter into an intimate relation with it, so that the whole organization of the soul is affected. It was concluded that it is indeed of great significance that indigenous people’s music should be regarded as a matter of relevance and ultimately becomes a vessel which carries the full meaning of the Gospel. Keywords: African religious, Lutheranism, Greater Sekhukhune Municipality, cultural context, traditional religion.

Presentation