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And So They Danced...
by Howard Brant
19 December 2008 “A few generations ago, conservative Christians believed dancing was wrong. SIM and other mission organizations carried that view to their places of service. If you are reading our magazine or website now, you’ll know that things have changed and we wholeheartedly affirm the art of the ethnic worship dance as described here.” – Carol Wilson
Northern Ghana is not an easy place to live — for anyone. The people suffer with drought, malaria and heat. If you see them in the daytime they appear rather lethargic, slow and unmotivated. But when the evening shadows grow long and the sun goes down — when they have had their evening meal and the moon comes out — and when they feel the sound of the African drum booming in the night — they come alive. Singing and dancing is perhaps the soul of the people. When asked which tribe or ethnic group they come from, they will respond, "I sing in Kassem, and I dance in Kassem." Many years ago, the Gospel was just coming to the Kassena people in Northern Ghana. A local SIM director came to visit us and the new believers put on a welcome dance for him. Soon after, we received a rather stern warning that we should not allow new Christians to dance. We were not so convinced. We could see that the people danced because it was their way of showing joy or happiness. A few months later, it was Christmas time. A leader came to visit us from SIM International. The Kassena believers invited our team to one of their villages to celebrate their first Christmas. We went, not knowing what to expect. They had a few songs, an African meal and someone told the Christmas story. We were just about to leave when a solid "thump, thump, thump" rang out in the night. A shot of embarrassment went through me! No! These people were not going to dance again! But they did. Out came the drums and they began their sophisticated rhythms. Each ethnic group had their own way of drumming — and this was definitely "Kassem." Very soon a long line formed and everyone joined their "line dance." In the moonlight, they danced back and forth — about 10 feet left and then about 10 feet right — back and forth. Then they began to sing their song. At first we didn't understand, but slowly we worked out what they were singing. It was their first Christmas song.
Over and over again, into the night they sang — Jesus Christ is the Son of God ... and He was born in Bethlehem. All this of course came with the powerful sound of the drum that went right through you. You could feel the vibration. The music went right down into your soul. And it made you want to get up and move and shout it out with them. Jesus Christ is the Son of God ... and He was born in Bethlehem! Well, so much for my embarrassment. Whatever my superiors might think, this was absolutely beautiful to me! Here was a clear, sincere, indigenous expression of these believers on their first Christmas — Kassena style. It was just as wonderful as "Joy to the World" or "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem." Jesus is the Son of God, and He was born in Bethlehem. They danced on into the night. The evening grew late and we had to leave. I expected to face the disapproval of my mission leader. But as we drove home, he said, "That was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen." And it was. 
 
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