Abstract
This article is an attempt to investigate and explore certain patterns in traditional Christian Xhosa songs as found in Xhosa music. The corpus of contemporary Xhosa music is vast, and difficult to explore properly without recognising the patterns of traditional music. In order to recognise these patterns Xhosa music in general will be discussed first – Xhosa music also as a form of art. Having done that, it will try to uncover certain elements of traditional songs in Christian Xhosa music. A comparative approach will be used to reveal the similarities between traditional and Christian songs. To compare certain aspects in a literary work does not imply attaching more significance to one element than to another. This method rather implies a way of looking beyond narrow boundaries, and to explore other spheres of human activities.
Highlights
With regard to the concept music Hamm (1975:1) says there are many types of music in the world, and these types of music differ just like the cultures in which they are found
Hamm (1975:104) further states that African Americans have lost their original music through the break-up of their tribal groups and the Westernised environment in which they live
Christian Xhosa songs are cyclic in form: each song is built up by constant repetitions of the same cyclic pattern; each cycle in each voice part is a sung sentence composed of phrases
Summary
With regard to the concept music Hamm (1975:1) says there are many types of music in the world, and these types of music differ just like the cultures in which they are found. The interplay between African and European traditions, for example, sometimes results in the use of Western instruments such as concertinas and guitars when African traditional songs are sung This kind of performance is commonplace today. As an art form, was meant to entertain society at large (at a time when there were no halls to accommodate large audiences). This is one of the reasons why performances among the amaXhosa often took place in the open air. According to Somniso (2002:119) nowadays some music is exclusively sung in churches and schools – by the amaXhosa. For the purposes of this article it is necessary to contextualise traditional songs, and to discuss such songs as a form of art
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