Representation of music in Zambia: other representations

Representation of music in Zambia: other representations. In view of the diversity found in Chibale, it is important to stress that the theory about music does not represent a generally used way of looking at music or musical phenomena. It was constructed in co-operation with exegetes who were leaders of possession cult groups. Most people rely on christian leaders or on the shing’anga, the same possession cult leaders, to know about this. They are only confronted with the implications of a theory in case of a certain treatment, advices on how to behave and the like.

Here an example of the representation of christian music. It uses some of the terms discussed in the article on the Representation of individual features of music.

Our music comes from Kasama [in Northern Province, some 500 kilometres from Chibale]. Choir leaders are trained in singing and leading a choir in Mpika [in Muchinga Province, some 300 kilometres from Chibale].
Our music has changed in the last 20 years. First in the beginning of the 1980s and then during the 1990s. The old mass was imposed on the people, it was too modern. The people were wondering what they were doing in the church. That is why the bishops decided to change the music and to add drums. The bringing in of the [two] drums was both pleasing to the people and to the one who is being praised: God (Lesa).
But the people do not come for the drumming only, they come for what they read in the Bible. […] The music is to teach through singing and to give the opportunity to be touched by the message instead of only understanding it. The songs are chosen in relation to the content of the mass or meeting. Of course, singing is not the only way to teach. Other ways are talking and discussing and showing it, for instance by helping people in need. […]
We have three types of music. At celebrations and when praising God, the music is rejoicing (kusansamuka), the drumming is bigger. At funerals and when remembering the dead, it is mourning (kulila), the drumming is small and respectful (panono panono mucinshi mucinshi). In the part of the mass dedicated to pleading, it is pleading (kulomba), also with small, respectful drumming.
Knowledge Ngosa, catechist of the Roman Catholic church in Kofi Kunda ∵ personal communication, 2004.