The Rightful Place of Dance/Bodily Movements in the African Liturgies An Invitation to Affirm and to Foster the Place of the Body in Worship

Ochwo, Michael (2017) The Rightful Place of Dance/Bodily Movements in the African Liturgies An Invitation to Affirm and to Foster the Place of the Body in Worship. Licentiate thesis, Santa Clara University Berkeley, California.

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Abstract

This study seeks to explore, affirm, and foster the place of dance in African liturgies, in other words, the place of bodily movement in worship in an African context.It argues, therefore, that the integration of the religio-cultural symbols of dance / bodily movements in liturgical celebrations is justified in the African cultural context because such symbolic gestures have the capacity to augment the active participation of the worshipper. This is so because embodied participation disposes the believer to offer praise, thanksgiving, adoration and worship, and in so doing, helps the worshipper to surrender to the Mystery we name God, who is summoning them. Though liturgical dance is increasingly a part of Eucharistic celebrations in Africa, there nevertheless remains vehement opposition to this cultural symbol in some quarters. This study therefore investigates some of the reasons behind this resistance and seeks to offer possible remedies that might foster the integration of dance in liturgy.The thesis uses inculturation as the lens through which it hopes to justify the place of the body in African liturgical celebrations. It argues that liturgical worship ought to spring from the cultural milieu of the People of God if it is to be meaningful and allow for active participation, but more importantly, if it is to help them to encounter God and the neighbor as a people in whom God dwells – the imago Dei. Therefore, the task of this study is to foster ways of rendering the liturgy responsive to the deep yearnings of the worshipping community in Africa. The thesis employs an interdisciplinary approach, utilizing history, Scripture, theology, especially African theology, and the African socio-cultural, anthropological and philosophical literature. In addition, the study brings to bear on the discussion the researcher’s own experience of dance in various African contexts. This study posits that overcoming onto-theology and embracing symbolic sacramentality grounds the integration of dance in worship. For this reason, it is anchored in the following argumentations: 1) the ubiquity of dance in religious practice, in Scripture, and in Christian liturgical history; 2) the theological and ecclesiological underpinnings of the inculturation of dance in liturgy; 3) the receptivity of dance in worship, and lastly; 4) dance as an African socio-cultural and religious symbol. The study concludes with some pastoral recommendations to help overcome the challenges facing the project of liturgical inculturation in Africa.

Item Type:	Thesis (Licentiate)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BT Doctrinal Theology B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BX Christian Denominations H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
Divisions:	Africana Afro-Christiana Jesuitica
Depositing User:	Tim Khabala
Date Deposited:	25 Aug 2017 13:14
Last Modified:	25 Aug 2017 13:14
URI:	http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/2136

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