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The Limits and Ambivalences of Postcolonial Consciousness in Mbunga's Church Law and Bantu Music

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 December 2018

Imani Sanga
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Extract

A Tanzanian Roman Catholic priest, the late Stephen B. G. Mbunga (1927–1982), has played a significant role in the history of church music in Tanzania through his compositions, involvement in music performance as a choral conductor, and scholarly writing on various aspects of church music. He is best known by scholars of the music of Tanzania through his work on the localization of church music there. In his 1963 book entitled Church Law and Bantu Music: Ecclesiastical Documents and Law on Sacred Music as Applied to Bantu Music, which was his doctoral dissertation (a work completed at and submitted to Propaganda University in Switzerland), he strongly defends the use of African music in Roman Catholic Church services in Africa. After interpreting Roman ecclesiastical laws and various directives given by top officials in the Roman Catholic Church, Mbunga argues that the use of African music in the Roman Catholic Church is consistent with and can be accomplished in accordance with these laws and directives concerning church music (see Sanga 2011:35–37). He also proposes practical ways through which musicians can undertake the task of composing African music that is appropriate for Roman Catholic Church services.

Abstract in kiswahili

Abstract in Kiswahili

Makala hii inajikita katika kitabu kiitwacho Church Law and Bantu Music: Ecclesiastical Documents and Law on Sacred Music as Applied to Bantu Music kilichoandikwa na padre wa kikatoliki nchini Tanzania, marehemu Stephen Mbunga. Katika kitabu hiki Mbunga anatetea matumizi ya muziki wa kiafrika katika ibada za kikatoliki barani Afrika. Anatafsiri sheria za kikatoliki na matamko mbalimbali ya viongozi wa juu wa kanisa hilo na anajenga hoja kuwa matumizi ya muziki wa kiafrika katika kanisa hilo hayapingani na yanaweza kufanywa kwa kuzingatia sheria na matamko hayo kuhusu muziki wa kanisa. Pia Mbunga anapendekeza namna ambavyo wanamuziki wanaweza kutunga muziki wa kiafrika unaofaa katika ibada za kikatoliki. Makala hii inabaini na kuj adili ukomo na utata katika kazi hii ya Mbunga na inatoa hoja kwamba kama zilivyo harakati nyingine nyingi za utaifa barani Afrika, Church Law and Bantu Music imegubikwa na utata wa utashi wa kiubadaukoloni na imeathiriwa kwa kiasi kikubwa na hali halisi ya kiubadaukoloni ya wakati wake.

Type
Articles
Information
Yearbook for Traditional Music , Volume 45 , 2013 , pp. 125 - 141
Copyright
Copyright © 2013 by the International Council for Traditional Music

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