PERHAPS A GIFT VOUCHER FOR MUM?: MOTHER'S DAY
Robert Beckford is Professor of Theology and Culture in the African Diaspora at Canterbury Christ Church University, UK. He has also worked as a BAFTA-winning television presenter, BBC radio broadcaster, and playwright.
Beckford makes a clarion call for social justice to be introduced into the singing repertoire of Black British contemporary gospel music. From the outset, emphasis on sonic qualities is downgraded as a symptom of colonised Christianity. Beckford calls for prioritizing what Black gospel music songs are saying. This interdisciplinary dialogue includes insightful history, theo-musicology, and practical suggestions for confronting colonial legacies and embracing social justice in song. A must-read for all Black British gospel music contributors and commentators! * Dr Dulcie Dixon McKenzie, Director, Centre for Black Theology, UK * Beckford, always a controversial writer, advances a searing critique of Black British gospel music. Drawing on perspectives from theology, cultural studies and his own biography, this multi-disciplinary and multi-modal text, which should be read in conjunction with watching the Jamaican Bible Remix album, raises important questions about the colonial legacy of Black Majority churches. You will not fail to be challenged and provoked by this fascinating book. * Pauline Muir, Lecturer in Arts Management, University of London, UK *
