Sing On, Ntsikana: The Story of Christian Music among the Xhosa People of South Africa

The Xhosa, an African people united by language and history, occupied a large portion of what is now eastern South Africa prior to the arrival of Europeans. After the arrival of Christianity through the Europeans, one of the earliest Xhosa converts, Ntsikana, was also the first Xhosa to compose music meant to worship their newfound Savior. Though this music in the traditional Xhosa style lay dormant for some time, enthusiastic Xhosa ministers in the past century have done much to learn from and expand upon the musical, spiritual legacy of Ntsikana. A unique blend of European and South African music has birthed among Xhosa Christians a distinct flavor of worship, which, though reflecting foreign influences, strongly retains indigenous traditions