To the Beat of the Drum

The Fusion Between Christianity and African Beliefs in South Africa. Religion plays an important part of daily life in the townships in South Africa with high attendance in the many churches on Sundays. The fastest growing denominations since the democratic elections are known as African Affiliated Churches. At these churches Christianity has been fused with traditional African beliefs and old cultural practices such as faith healing. The most successfully attended of these is the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) that has over 10,000 churches in South Africa alone. Here hymns are replaced with vibrant drumbeats, rhythmic chanting and trance like dancing. The wearing of their brightly coloured robes with embroidered religious symbols easily recognises the ZCC attendees. Photographs in this series were taken in Soweto, South Africa