Music and Charismatic/Pentecostal Worship: Nigerians’ Instrument of Achieving Peace of Mind in the Midst of Difficulties

Abstract

Nigeria has passed through lots of social upheavals, economic difficulties and political instability ever since her independence in 1960. Nigerians have suffered and continue to suffer in patience! But one can also recall that similar – if not lesser pains – experienced in some Arab countries gave rise to the so-called Arab Spring. Among the causes of the Arab Spring are: political corruption, human right violations, inflation, kleptocracy, unemployment and ultimately the self-immolation of one Mohammed Bouazizi in Tunisia on 17 December 2010. In summary, the so-called Arab Spring affecting countries like Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Syria, etc. was a chain of unprecedented violent revolution against the socio-political status quo. The question remains: why has Nigeria not erupted in the flames of revolution given that the same causes of the Arab Spring – and even much more – have always remained with Nigerians? Why have Nigerians not risen up against the oppression and insensitivity of the political/ruling class? Answering this question in this paper, by analyzing Nigerians’ personal experiences using hermeneutical and phenomenological theories and methods, I argue that Nigerians have employed and still employ charismatic/Pentecostal music as their instrument of negotiating their way through all the difficulties they go through and achieving peace of mind in the midst of these difficulties.