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

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.