Heritage Interpretation Through Music: Dance, Ritual, Music and Religion

The purpose of this study has been to clarify the ritual use of music in Ancient Israelite and indigenous African religions. The function of music in the Bible, the relationship between music and religion, music and ritual, as well as the relationship between the living and the living dead has been investigated. Structurally, the study has been divided into four parts. The first part sets the problem formulation, proposes the solving of the problem, the aims, hypothesis and methodological approach. The second part comprises of a description regarding music in the Bible: secular use, music in religion, music in Africa and ritual music. The third part provides the historical background of Contradosa and the Pedi conception of religion, the idea of God among the Pedi, Pedi traditional beliefs, magic and divination in relation to the Pedi and Ancient Near East. In the fourth part the Pedi traditional healers' personal songs are transcribed. An important motivation for the study has been the belief that study and research on music & religion is an important source of information for the importance of music in religious rituals.