Music in performing religious rites
Religions have created rituals to communicate with God that transcend political or cultural bounds. Music is fundamental to these ceremonies, both as a means of personal expression and as a representation of the larger cultural, societal, and spiritual communities. It is one of the lists of Chad culture, customs, and etiquette.
- Islamic music
Students in Koranic schools frequently listen to Islamic music as they recite verses from the Koran aloud during religious rites. Religious songs honor the Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, in diverse contexts, such as a marriage or a circumcision. The Sufi brotherhood enjoys popular worship music like the qawwali (a type of Sufi devotional music) and sama (spiritual hearing in Arabic), although these genres are essentially nonexistent in the nation. According to Étienne Damomé, "These songs and dances, inspired by regional melodies influenced by Arabic and eastern European rhythms, improve the ambiance of a Muslim or Christian celebration."
- Catholic worship
The many Christian cults and denominations have always included music in Chad. The largest collection of religious songs is found in Christian music. In Chad, the Catholic Church has maintained its conservatism, and little has altered in the liturgical music other from the addition of instruments to accompany choirs. These same choirs are now leaning toward "global music" in search of fresh musical inspiration.
- Protestant Church
In protestant churches, music is a form of contact between the faithful and their God. The musical selection of worship groups is extremely varied, combining regional sounds like Sa and Dalla with global beats like rumba, world music, slow, gospel, etc. Instruments like the piano, the guitar, and other sound equipment are crucial during worship because they facilitate the faithful's improved prayer and praise of God. The French Institute of Chad gives many ensembles the chance to play on stage each December. And these gatherings have developed into the place where groups from Chad perform R&B, jazz, traditional African music, and American Negro Spirituals.
