Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Interrogating the Notion of Indigenous Worship in the Light of the ‘Worship War ’ Debate

The subject of Christian church music has sparked controversy for centuries. In this dissertation I highlight the most recent discussion about the ‘worship war ’ debate, namely the infiltration of contemporary popular music into what once was considered a sacred arena. I explore some of the shortcomings of Contemporary Church Music with the intention of answering two questions: Is there a style of music that is most appropriate for Christian worship and that best represents Christian identity? and, How can South African Christians express their own unique cultural identity in their Church Music? I seek proof of the link between musical choices and demographics in three Evangelical churches in Johannesburg via insights gained in a worship questionnaire and series of interviews. I conclude that music has the ability to construct both identity and a sense of place and that Contemporary Church Music (CChM) is distinct from contemporary secular music in two ways: its purpose and the identity of the musicians and congregants who participate in its performance. Addressing the latter, I explore a demographics model and conclude that every congregation boasts a unique identity which is affected by music, church history and cultural upbringing. I argue that Indigenous Worship is critical in answering both questions. DECLARATION I declare that this Dissertation is my own, unaided work. It is being submitted for the degree of Master of Music by Dissertation in the Wits School of Arts, Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. It has not been submitted fo