Sound Systems and the Christian Deviation

Abstract

The Christian sound system movement in Britain represents an exchange between ‘church hall’ and ‘dancehall’ which started in the late 1990s. The hidden history of this unique movement is uncovered through interviews with members of ‘Shekinah Sound Ministries’ and ‘His Majesty’s Sound System’. The narrative highlights the importance of the MC, selector and engineer as the primary practitioners involved in ‘ministering the music’ to the audience. The controversies involved in the Christianisation of the ‘dubplate’ are discussed as well as the criticisms directed at the movement for using reggae music as a tool for evangelism in the early years. The essay offers a religious cultural analysis of sound systems and suggests five main theological themes which characterise the Christian deviation. This chapter proposes that gospel sound systems in Britain contribute to the wider narrative of black British culture and provides an important insight into the religious aspect of bassline culture.