Makwaya

‘Makwaya’, coming from a Xhosa pronunciation of the English words ‘my choir’, represents a synthesis of African group singing styles and European choral music. John Knox Bokwe* (1855-1922), a Xhosa ordained in the Presbyterian Church in Scotland, had a strong interest in the music of Ntsikana* and was part of a rising nationalism concerned about cultural advancement among black South Africans. He developed ‘makwaya’ as a choral style that blended African music with choral singing as a way to support himself while studying for the ministry in Scotland and to raise support for South African mission work. European hymns were ‘Africanized’ by incorporating call-response techniques, gliding...