From Fading Facades to Building Bridges: A Study of the Inculturative Texture of Christian Religious Songs in Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines the domestication of select Edo folk songs/musical traditions in contemporary Christian religious worship. Its objectives are to underscore the resilience/renaissance of indigenous musical traditions despite cultural imperialism; and reemphasize the relevance of inculturation in contemporary Christian evangelism. Employing a qualitative ethnographic approach, the study gathered data through semi-structured interviews with church clergies, traditional chiefs, elders, and adults, alongside observations and an extensive review of related literature. Participants were selected based on their deep knowledge of Edo music and the Christian liturgy. The paper reveals, among other things, that musical tradition plays a great part in the social-religious life of a people. That, rather than capitulating under the weight of religio-cultural colonisation, Edo folk songs/musical tradition has creatively domesticated the Christian faith, having been absorbed into the Christian liturgical system. The paper reaffirms the verdict of Vatican II, with its language of aggiornamento, which brought a new concept of enhancing the solemnity of the Christian liturgy within the context of the people’s worldview. Insights from this paper apply to the broader discourse on inculturation. It provides a framework for cultural preservation amid religious transformation. The findings also offer a basis for developing a contextual Christian theology that respects a people’s indigenous culture and creates opportunities for expanded dialogue and collaboration.

Keywords

• Christian liturgy
• Edo Christian songs
• musical inculturation
• adoption of traditional songs in Christianity

Nijerya’nın Edo Eyaletindeki Hristiyan Dini Müziklerinin Kültürel Dokusu Üzerine Bir Araştırma

Abstract

Bu makale, Nijeryanın Edo Eyaletindeki halk şarkların/müzik geleneklerini incelemektedir. Amaç, kültürel emperyalizm karşısında yerli müzik geleneklerinin direncinin/yeniden doğuşunun altın çizmek ve kültürleşmenin çağdaş Hristiyan evanjelizmindeki önemini yeniden vurgulamaktır. Nitel bir etnografik yaklaşımın kullanıldığı çalışmada, kilise din adamlar, geleneksel şefler, yaşlılar ve yetişkinlerle yapılan yar yapılandırılmış görüşmelerin yan sıra gözlemler ve ilgili literatürün kapsamlı bir incelemesi yoluyla veri toplanmıştır. Katılımclar, Edo müziği ve Hristiyan ayini hakkındaki derin bilgilerine dayanarak seçilmiştir. Çalışma, diğer hususların yan sıra, müzik geleneğinin bir halkın sosyal-dinsel yaşamında büyük bir rol oynadığını ortaya koymaktadır. Edo halk şarklar/ müzik geleneği, dinsel-kültürel sömürgeleştirmenin ağırlığı altında ezilmek yerine, Hristiyan ayin sistemine dahil olarak Hristiyan inancn yaratc bir şekilde evcilleştirmiştir. Bu makale, halkın dünya görüşü bağlamında Hristiyan ayininin ciddiyetini arttırmaya yönelik yeni bir kavram getiren aggiornamento diliyle Vatikan II'nin kararın yeniden teyit etmektedir. Bu makaleden elde edilen görüşler, kültürleşme üzerine daha geniş bir söylem için geçerlidir. Dini dönüşümün ortasında kültürel koruma için bir çerçeve sunmaktadır. Bulgular ayrıca, bir halkın yerli kültürüne saygı duyan ve genişletilmiş diyalog ve iş birliği için fırsatlar yaratan bağlamsal bir Hristiyan teolojisi geliştirmek için bir temel sunmaktadır.

Keywords

• Hristiyan liturjisi
• Edo Hristiyan ilahileri
• müzikal enkültürasyon
• geleneksel ezgilerin Hristiyanlkta benimsenmesi

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