We recently had Alan and Carroll Foster of Vineyard Music Africa spend a week with us, doing some teaching and equipping in the area of the theology and practice of worship. During the week they enjoyed a safari followed by a meeting with a Christian Maasai choir that is preparing to tour the States and Canada in the coming months (for schedule see link below).
The choir from Simanjaro region, sang and performed original pieces to the delight of the Fosters, who have a passion to see indigenous worship develop in African churches. The MAPED choir was originally formed to give Maasai girls a place to go instead of having to participate in the sexual traditions the evenings usually involve. Girls whose fathers had met Jesus would go to the church for choir practices in the evenings while the other girls would go to the bush with the warriors. The choir has grown to include men, women, warriors and girls now. (See http://en-kata.com)
Alan and Carroll had already visited a local village church where they enjoyed fellowship and worship, followed by the opportunity to teach some principles that proved helpful for the worship leaders. The challenge is convincing people that 'West is not Best' (i.e. electronic instruments and loud PA's), rather culturally authentic expressions using the heart-language of the people, which will be the most effective in connecting people to God.
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