Music transcends differences and offers an opportunity for people to unite around enjoyable activities, thus it fosters interfaith coexistence. Individuals can participate in a variety of activities which range from singing karaoke to building drums. The purpose behind these activities is to bring together individuals from different religious backgrounds to engage in interreligious dialogue while participating in an entertaining activity.

Music transcends differences and offers an opportunity for people to unite around enjoyable activities, thus it fosters interfaith coexistence. Individuals can participate in a variety of activities which range from singing karaoke to building drums. The purpose behind these activities is to bring together individuals from different religious backgrounds to engage in interreligious dialogue while participating in an entertaining activity.

Activity: Structure and Needs

In order to carry out the drum activity, the group needs to buy the drum skins and other components, to be able to cooperate and collaborate in building the instruments, while being guided by a Shaman. The group learns how to make the drum and then construct it by themselves. They help one another and then go home with their own homemade drum that they can use to play music on.

The Karaoke session should be organized in a public place and can include individuals of different faiths. Mobilization via community networks such as universities, families and religious communities is necessary to welcome everyone. Participants choose songs from a compiled list, sourced from all kinds of music, and get to sing together.

Objectives: Impact and Focus

These activities are promising because they are enjoyable to do and engage individuals to collaborate beyond their differences. They also promote interreligious interaction and dialogue. These kinds of initiatives are great methods to break the ice between people of different religious communities. They help individuals to acknowledge each other, their values, practices, and rituals of worships.

The practice of drum construction raises awareness on ancestral practices such as shamanism. It creates solidarity among people of different faiths by inviting them to participate and help each other in this activity. It also helps deconstruct prejudices about shamanism by educating communities on their culture, traditions, beliefs and practices.

The interfaith Karaoke assists in creating links within a given community composed of various identities. This gathering should be organized in an informal setting, as it is an entertaining event that unites people by singing together. Therefore, Interfaith Music is a practice that pushed participants to look beyond their religious differences, and unite around a common passion.

Field Data: Examples and Sources (Activity – Organisation – Location)

1.) Interfaith drum construction workshop – Nowa Cumig of Native Traditions Centre – Rio de Janiero, Brazil

The Native Traditions Centre of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil regularly organizes workshops around the practices of shamanism. Drum construction workshops bring together different faiths, giving people of all backgrounds and all horizons an opportunity to go deeper in their understanding of shamanism. In the center’s rooms, different types of objects are on display that are important in shamanistic practices, such as various kinds of stones, masks and jewels. The display of these objects gives visitors an accurate insight into shamanic practices.

2.) Interfaith Karaoke – Religions for Peace – Tokyo, Japan

Religions for Peace has been of great support to the victims of the various tsunamis that have hit Japan. Many communities were scattered and found themselves displaced in completely new environments. Religions for Peace tried to bring about a sense of belonging to everyone in their new homes, by uniting people of different faiths and backgrounds around karaoke.