Funeral songs and the Seventh-day Adventist Church

ABSTRACT

The study of music at funerals has drawn widespread interest around the globe. The realisation that Seventh-day Adventists sing unique songs at their funerals inspired this investigation, which was conducted among Shona speakers of Zimbabwe. Therefore, this article does an appreciation of songs sung during funerals conducted by the Seventh-day Adventists. This discussion sought answers to two questions, namely, ‘Why do the Adventists sing at a funeral?’ and ‘Which songs do they popularise?’ It emerges that eleven songs are popularised at the Seventh-day Adventists’ funerals. The choice of songs depends on the meaning of the lyrics. Dominant lyrics highlight the transitory nature of life, the caring of Jesus Christ and the hope that after death there shall be resurrection among others.

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Notes on contributors

Livingstone Makondo

Livingstone Makondo (Dr) is a Senior Academic Development Advisor/Senior Instructional Designer in the Academic Development Centre at the North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa

Otlina Makondo

Otlina Makondo is an educator at Sol Plaatjie Secondary School (Mafikeng, South Africa) and a Master of Business Administration