Today’s strategic song was created by these Maasai musicians to speak into their own culture. The song text is taken from what is often called “The Great Commission” – Christ’s challenge to his Church to seek and save the lost. The scripture texts can be found in Matthew 28:16-20 and Mark 16:15.
The brilliance of this song is in the setting – the song genre is instantly recognizable among Maasai people as a “sending song” which is a song used to send (commission) young men into the bush to find lost sheep, goats, cows and camels and bring them back to become part of this community.
The language and actions of sending, seeking and bringing into the community are common to the Maasai, a semi-nomadic pastoralist (herdsmen) culture. Because of these overlapping meanings, the musicians believe this song will resonate on many levels with Maasai listeners. Traditionally, Maasai songs use no instruments but rather use rhythmic vocalizations (such as “Hi-ya”) to great instrumental effect. Maasai songs, even lullabies and individual songs such as that by a herdsman to his cows, always invite group participation in the response phrases if not in the main lyric itself.
This song was led by shepherd/herdsman Jonathan Kitao; Jonathan is also a “hero Moran” – meaning he is not only a Maasai warrior but a warrior who has killed a lion using only his spear or sword (he was 19). We were thrilled to see Jonathan and the other musicians begin to grasp the impact they can have through the strategic use of song. Our challenge was for them to create songs that present Christian faith and teaching as if they came FROM Maasai culture rather than TO it. We believe that by creating songs strategically, artists can multiply the impact of local church ministries and can find ways to make the gospel message to resonate deeply in the hearts of their own people.
Enjoy!