Gender in Church Music: Dynamics of Gendered Space in Muziki wa Injili in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

What is it about?

The paper deals with the dynamics of gendered space in Muziki wa Injili (lit. Gospel Music) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. It argues that there has been an increased prominence of women musicians in Muziki wa Injili in the last two decades and that this increase has an influence on the increased focus on women’s issues in the lyrics of the songs. Using the theory of spatial trialectics, it discusses factors that led to this increase and it analyzes the construction of gender in selected songs. The analysis shows that individuals’ experiences of various gender problems are shaped by the gendered mental space which is informed by religious and other cultural norms.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

The paper deals with the dynamics of gendered space in Muziki wa Injili (lit. Gospel Music) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. It argues that there has been an increased prominence of women musicians in Muziki wa Injili in the last two decades and that this increase has an influence on the increased focus on women’s issues in the lyrics of the songs. Using the theory of spatial trialectics, it discusses factors that led to this increase and it analyzes the construction of gender in selected songs. The analysis shows that individuals’ experiences of various gender problems are shaped by the gendered mental space which is informed by religious and other cultural norms.

Perspectives