Cultural Observations from Tanzania: Going to Church

I can’t wait for my Swahili to get better so that I can talk more directly to people – and know what they are talking about in church. A two to three hour service is long enough without knowing what’s going on. But

(In this first picture they have stopped the service to arrange for a picture with me. Many were taken.)

I have observed common parts to a worship service:

Leaders go by procession in and out. In the village I’m expected to be in the procession.




(Picture: Special music from the younger youth choir. There is often special music from 3-5 choirs.)

Sermons start slow. They build in energy. Just when you think they have reached a final climax, they start again. Every preacher I have heard has managed to get his audience to laugh frequently. 20 minutes is short and means that he didn’t have much worth talking about. So get comfortable.

There is always a lengthy treasurer’s report and announcements.




(Pictured: Processing into church.)

They often take multiple offerings. Three is not uncommon so be prepared. It doesn’t end there, after the service as you exit a circle is formed outside and after a final prayer there will be an auction of some donated item to raise further money. These auctions take two forms. In the village, every bid counts and is paid afterword and the last bidder gets the item no matter what they bid. Bids do not proceed from high to low. In the city, bids increase in size and only the last bidder pays.



It can end with a friendly contest for the item.

(A view of the local village church and the happy decorations.)


There is usually special music from a variety of participants. Traditional Lutheran hymns sung in Swahili I can do without. My favorite is when they sing African style songs with choreographed dance. For me it’s best part of the worship overall. In the villages it is common for a person to rise from the congregation, begin a spontaneous song expressing something for the moment, and then be joined by all. I love it.





(This band runs their big speakers on car batteries because there is no local power except solar. There are four guitarists.)


(Below: the auction was canceled so that we could take a picture of the entire congregation instead.)

African Music

I don't think that you could understand Africa without experiencing her music. I began my day invited to a prayer meeting next to the hostel. So after a cold shower at 5:30 am I wandered over into the service. As only one of two Mzungu (white person) filling the church, I was pretty obvious.

Picture a large church filled with singing people. No, see you don't understand if you haven't been to Africa. The few old hymns in the dozen that they did were anything but stodgy - even with an organ leading. And drums. And an electric guitar. And multipart harmony. And swaying. And a tenor song leader with a voice to call across the Grand Canyon. I would have taken a picture but it seemed to be so Spirit filled that it felt sacriligeous. Here's a picture taken later when the church was quiet.


There is music everywhere. On TV. On radios. Broadcast into restaurants. While I ate dinner, the music came over the speakers and there was a choir practicing in the courtyard. And as I headed to my room, I heard another choir at practicing at the church. It called to me so I went and listened. I tried to upload a clip of some music but the internet was just too slow. After more than an hour and a half of waiting, I gave up. So here's a picture of them practicing:

It's like rock music for choirs, but better.
African music is really special. Even when you don't know what their singing, it grabs your heart.