To African beat, Benedict warns synod against 'nihilism' and 'fundamentalism' [John Allen]

[Catholic_Press]

By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
Rome

Here’s something you don’t see every day: St. Peter’s Basilica, typically a showcase for traditional and sober forms of Catholic worship, rocking to the beat of bongo drums and bass guitars, as a Congolese chorus belted out catchy African hymns such as “Nakoma Peto” and “Yamba Makabu”.

Such was the scene in St. Peter’s this morning, during an opening Mass for the second Synod of Bishops for Africa, which is set to run Oct. 4-25 in Rome.

Pope Benedict XVI led this morning’s liturgy, joined by almost 240 bishops, most of them Africans taking part in the synod. Concelebrating the Mass were the three co-presidents of the synod, Cardinals Francis Arinze of Nigeria, Wilfrid Fox Napier of South Africa, and Theodore-Adrien Sarr of Senegal, along with Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana, the “relator,” or general secretary, of the synod.

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[LoveJesus]

I loved watching that Mass. It was very refreshing to see the style of African worship.

 

[Dee_Dee_King]

i can understand the inculturation of what is good in african culture to be incorperated into catholic worship in theory, but how are electric guitars, keyboards and bass instruments part of their culture?

i think the geez church is a good example of inculturation without being worldly.

anyways, fundamentalism is a serious problem in aftrica.