This collection of 16 hymns and songs in traditional African styles expands the repertoire of global music for the Christian church immensely. The songs come from Zimbabwe and Cameroon and are primarily in the Shona language with “singing” English translations throughout.
Patrick Matsikenyiri is the composer, author, translator, and/or arranger of each piece in the collection. Dr. Matsikenyiri is a retired professor of music and culture at Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe, and a well-known composer and compiler of African song. He has led workshops on this subject around the world.
Patrick’s choir from Africa University recorded each of the 16 songs on a CD that is included with each copy of the hymn collection.
Dan Damon, the collection’s editor, helped with many of the English translations. He himself is an internationally known writer of hymns, a jazz pianist, and a United Methodist pastor currently serving on the faculty of Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California.