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

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 2 Sayı: 1, 33 - 47, 25.04.2025

Charles Aluede , Solomon Ijeweimen Ikhidero Maureen Ada Uche

https://doi.org/10.26650/meshk.2025.00003

Öz

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.

Anahtar Kelimeler

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

Öz

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.

Anahtar Kelimeler

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

Kaynakça

• Abolagba, John Aidelije, Abuedefe John Estes and Aihevba, Peter. (2012). Traditional Music Education through Bini Songs and Dances. Journal of Qualitative Education, 8(1), 1-8. ISSN: 0331 - 4790 google scholar
• Afolaranmi Victor Boluwatife and Afolaranmi AdebaYo Ola (2024). Cultural revitalization through dance as a panacea for peacebuilding. Advanced Journal of Theatre and Film Studies (AJTFS) 2(l): 39-45 google scholar
• Agbo, Benedict (2024). Indigenous Compositions for Post - Colonial Liturgical Music in Nigeria. Sapientia Foundation Journal of Education, Sciences and Gender Studies (SFJESGS), 6(l). pp 85-100 ISSN: 2734-2522 (Print); ISSN: 2734-2514 (Online) google scholar
• Aisien, Eghaguosa (2013) ChristianitY and Benin CitY. Benin CitY: Mindex Publishing Company Limited google scholar
• Ajibade, George (n.d) A Hermeneutic AnalYsis of Selected Yorûbâ Pentecostal Songs google scholar
• Akperi Yemi A.., Abolagba, John A. and Aibuedefe, Estes J. (2022). Musical Ethos in (Bini) Olokun Worship and Its Derivatives in Some African Indigenous Churches (AIC) JANIM: Journal of the Association of Nigerian Musicologists. No.16, Issue 2: 172-195. DOI: https:// dx.doi.org/10.4314/janm.v16i2.11 google scholar
• Alli Peter O. and Ikhidero Solomon I. (2024) Inculturating Esan Traditional Values with the Christian Faith. Benin Journal of Religions and Society. 6.2: 257-267 google scholar
• ALuede, Charles O and Ekewenu, Dafe B. (2023) ‘From Igbe to lyayi Religious Movement: A StudY of Religious, SociaL and Musical Accul-turation among the Urhobo and Esan Peoples of Nigeria’ Critical Research on Religion. 11 (l):1-21. DOI: 10.1177/20503032231174212 google scholar
• Aluede, Charles O. (2024). Traversing Esan Landscape and Its Soundscape: MY Dicta. Ambrose Alli University 114th Inaugural Lecture. Ekpoma: Inno Printing Press. google scholar
• ALuede, Charles O. and Braimah Abu A. (2005) Edo Folk Songs as Sources of Historical Reconstruction. Stud. Tribes Tribals, 3(2): 123-128. google scholar
• Arinaitwe K. Alex (2023). The Dilemma of SYncretism in The Church of Uganda Christian Faith Development from 1877 to 2019. Journal of Research Innovation and Implications in Education, 7(3), 45-50. https://doi.org/10.59765/xxir419t google scholar
• Awolala DO, Mutemi J, Adefisan E, Antwi-AgYei P and TaYlor A (2022) Profiling User Needs for Weather and Climate Information in Fostering Drought Risk Preparedness in Central- Southern Nigeria. Front. Clim. 4:787605. doi: 10.3389/fclim.2022.787605 google scholar
• Beier H.U. (1956) Yoruba vocal music. Vol. 1 No. 3 African Music: Journal of the African Music SocietY https://doi.org/10.21504/amj.v1i 3.310 google scholar
• BlacK Sacred Music 2 (i): 35-44. https://doi.Org/l0.1215/l0439455-2.1.35 google scholar
• Ebhomienlen Thomas O (2017) Negative Attitude of Modern Youth on African Ethical Values: Its Detrimental Blow on the Esan Nation of Nigeria. IJASOS - International E- Journal of Advances in SociaL Sciences, 3(8) 691 google scholar
• Edo State Government MDAs. Web. 13 November 2024. <https://edostate.gov.ng/edo/> google scholar
• Edo, NG Climate Zone, MonthlY Weather Averages and Historical Data". tcktcktck.org. Retrieved 30 June 2023. google scholar
• Egharevba, Jacob (1968) A Short HistorY of Benin. Ibadan: UniversitY Press. google scholar
• Ekewenu, Bruno D. (2018). “An Ethnomusicological StudY of Igbe Music of the Urhobo.” PhD diss., Delta State UniversitY, Abraka, Nigeria. google scholar
• Ekong, Grace E. and Akpakpan, Johnson (2013). Oberi Okaime and Africanism in Christian Worship: The Musical Perspective. International Journal of Asian Social Science, 2013, 3(4):939-950 google scholar
• Fasipe, Emmanuel Olusola (2022) The Use of Indigenous Musical Instruments in Traditional Christian Worship of the Yoruba, Nigeria. VOL. 10 google scholar https://doi.org/10.21504/amj.v2i1.518 google scholar
• IdumwonYi, MercY Itohan and Ikhidero Solomon Ijeweimen (2013). Resurgence of the Traditional Justice SYstem in Postcolonial Benin (Nigeria) SocietY. African Journal of Legal Studies. 6:123-135. Leiden:Brill google scholar
• Ikhidero, Solomon I. Alli, Peter O. and Solomon-lkhidero, Joy (2024). Perception and Pitfalls of the Emerging Porn-tradition on Adoles-cents in TodaY’s Edo in Nigeria. International Journal of Science and Humanities 2(l); 144-156. google scholar
• Imasogie, O. (1980). Olokun the Divinity of Fortune. Benin CitY: Osadolor Imasogie Publishers. google scholar
• Kanu, Ikechukwu A. (2012). Inculturation and the Christian faith in Africa. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science 2(17). pp236-244. Print google scholar
• Louw, Johan K. (1958) The Use of African Music in The Church African Music: Journal of the African Music Society Vol. 2, No. 1 google scholar
• Luzbetak, L.J. (1988) The Church and Cultures: New Perspectives in Missiological Anthropology. MarYknoll, New York: Orbis Books. google scholar
• Martin, Stephen (1988) African Church Music: The Genesis of an Acculturative StYle google scholar
• Metuh, I. (1987) Comparative Studies of African Traditional Religion. Enugu: Imico Publication. google scholar
• MwanYungwi A. (2020). Inculturation in Modern Zambia. African Multidisciplinary Journal of Research (AMJR) 5 (2), ISSN 2518-2986 (48 - 65) google scholar
• Ojo, Esther TitilaYO (2023). Gospel Âpâlâ music in African Christian worship: Thematic and stYlistic analYsis. TYDSKRIF VIR LETTERKUNDE 60 (3); 106-122 google scholar
• Pobee, J. S. Exploring Afro-ChristianitY: A Theological Essay Peter Lang Publishing 1992. google scholar
• Tobias Chibuike Onah et al (2021). SYncretism among Christians in Nigeria and their Implications for Nigerian Christians. Sapientia Global Journal of Arts, Humanities and Development Studies (SGOJAHDS), 4 (3) 9-21; ISSN: 2695-2319 ISSN: 2695-2327 (Online). google scholar
• Turkson, A. R. (1992) “Contrafactum and Parodied Song Texts in Religious Music: A Discussion of Problems and Challenges in Contem-porary African Music” in Djedje, A.C. (Ed) African Musicology: Current Trends. Los Angelis: University of California Press, 65-80. google scholar
• Ukpong Justin S. Towards a Holistic Approach to Inculturation TheologY. Mission Studies, 16(2), 100-124. https://doi.org/10.1163/15733831-90000009b google scholar
• Yakubu Suleiman (2021). The Role and Impact of the Islamic Religion on the Auchi Kingdom in Nigeria Since 1914. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 17 (28), 1-17. https://doi.org/l0.19044/esj.2021.v17n28p1 google scholar