Songs and dances in Zambia: christianity

Songs and dances in Zambia: christianity. Christian songs differ from most other songs in Chibale. There are some common traits with another genre from outside: kalindula songs.
Christian songs are not accompanied by the set of three large drums. The music is more metric than polyrhythmic. The texts are in ciBemba, not ciLala. They are longer than most other songs in Chibale and often have a stanza-refrain form with an occasional intro or coda. The tunes are not made within one musango or within a limited set of musango. Christian singing and playing are softer and slower than that of other songs. And lastly, two performances of the same song sound very much alike. See also the article about christian gatherings with music.

Song 8

A Jehovah’s Witnesses’ hymn sung by Sakaliya Mulwaso and his son, 1981.

Text of Song 8 ∵ Be happy and shout

Imabalika we Sioni – Mfifi yafimbe sonde
Ikatisho kuteka kwa nkalamo iyakwa Yuda
Anga punda anga punda Sioni watufyalile mbila nsuma
Kuti pa Amagidoni Klistu akacindika Lesa

Kasuba no mweshi tafyaka be lubuto lobe
Yehova Lesa akabalu lumbelo buto lobe
Anga punda anga punda Sioni watufyalile mbila nsuma
Kuti pa Amagidoni Klistu akacindika Lesa

Bana bobe fibusa beni – Besa bengi nge nkunda
Mumalinga yamutelelwe ngalalumbanya Lesa
Anga punda anga punda Sioni watufyalile mbila nsuma
Kuti pa Amagidoni Klistu akacindika Lesa

Darkness covers the world but there’s light in you, Zion
It will help in the Lion’s reign of Judah
Be happy and shout, be happy and shout: Zion, you bore us good news
That at armageddon Christ shall give respect to God

Sun and Moon will not shine light on you
Jehovah God will be your light
Be happy and shout, be happy and shout: Zion, you bore us good news
That at Armageddon Christ shall give respect to God

Your children are friends – They come in large numbers like doves
In safe, stockaded villages praising God
Be happy and shout, be happy and shout: Zion, you bore us good news
That at Armageddon Christ shall give respect to God

Song 9

A UCZ song as sung by the New God’s Messengers choir, UCZ church, Chibale village, 1990.²Recorded by Corien Unger.

Text of Song 9 ∵ The giver of the things we have

Solo                       Chorus
Filye nse                Filye nsebulefwaya
Pakufwa                Pakufwaya menshi
Efyono                   Efyo no mutima wandi
Uefwa                   Uefwaya Lesa
Bamunyina           Bamunyine fwe bonse
Iseni                       Tulumbanye Lesa wesu
Pantu Lesa            Pantu Lesa ekapela
Wafintu                 Wafintu twakwata

Just like the zebra
Needs water
That is how my heart
Needs God
Fellow christians, we all
Come – We praise our God
Because God is the giver
Of the things we have

The song begins with a paraphrase of the beginning of Psalm 42.

Song 10

A Roman Catholic song as sung by the choir of the Roman Catholic St. Barnabas church, Chibale village, 1990.³Recorded by Corien Unger.

Text of Song 10 ∵ Hey you, death

Solo – stanza 1 to 4

Twali abakumanina munda muli mayo – Yangu we mfwa we
Twali abakumanina munda mu citente – Yangu we mfwa we
Twali abakumanina munda mu safeli – Yangu we mfwa we
Twali abakumanina munda muno kwaya – Yangu we mfwa we

We were equal when born from our mother’s womb – Hey you, death
We were equal in our small christian community – Hey you, death
We were equal in our youth group – Hey you, death
We were equal in our choir group – Hey you, death

Chorus – refrain after each stanza

Walibipa – Wansendela mwana wandi
Wansendela mwana wandi
Nashala mufilamba
Yangu we mfwa we – Walibipa

You are bad – You have carried away my child
You have carried away my child
I have remained crying
Hey you, death – You are bad

The song ends with soft singing, something one does not hear often in Chibale.

Christian dancing

Songs and dances in Zambia: christianity. Originally, there was no dancing in any of the denominations. In the course of the 1980s, in the UCZ churches movements started being made with the arms, the head and the upper part of the body, while being seated. Later, this was followed be more elaborate dancing.

The spread of Christianity in our country was based on the tradition of that church … how it was done in the countries of origin. For Catholics for example the preaching was done in Latin and only during bible sharing the preacher explained things in the local language. The instrument that accompanied the Catholic music was a piano. No drums or cisekele. They were regarded as pagan. But nobody could dance to a piano. Until around the 1980s, local music was allowed that was composed by well known composers. Drums accompanied the music and eventually, when more instruments came in, dance movements started. Of course, we talk about movements that won’t leave people with mixed thoughts.
Basil Chisonta ∵ personal communication, 2020.