--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Gospel music rhythms are not African in…" description: "\"Gospel music rhythms are not African in origin, although I know that's what the jazz experts say.\" — Mahalia Jackson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/mahalia-jackson-15531_christianity_gospel-music-rhythms-are-not-african-in_1314770.png" --- # Gospel music rhythms are not African in origin, although I… ![“Gospel music rhythms are not African in origin, although I know that's what the jazz experts say.” quote by Mahalia Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/mahalia-jackson-15531_christianity_gospel-music-rhythms-are-not-african-in_1314770.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/mahalia-jackson-15531_christianity_gospel-music-rhythms-are-not-african-in_1314770.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/mahalia-jackson-15531_christianity_gospel-music-rhythms-are-not-african-in_1314770.png) > “Gospel music rhythms are not African in origin, although I know that's what the jazz experts say.” [Mahalia Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahalia-jackson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Gospel rhythms share origins with African music, despite claims otherwise. **In simple terms:** Gospel and African music are linked. Key Takeaway Recognize shared cultural roots. Themes music history cultural exchange identity Mood analytical thoughtful Type historical educational When to use this quote - music education - cultural heritage projects - interfaith events - media analysis Key Concepts Ethnomusicology African diaspora Questions to Reflect On - How does acknowledging shared origins affect cultural pride? - What role do experts play in shaping narratives? A Different Perspective Attributions can be contested and politicized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African Origin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-origin-619758/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Experts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experts/) [Gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel/) [Gospel music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel-music/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Know Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-jazz-1326953/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Rhythms African](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhythms-african-4361848/) ## Related quotes > [Jazz was the beginning of rhythm music, which developed into rock and roll. 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Part of it are the roots in Africa, where it's a more primitive instrument.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-fleck/there-are-a-lot-of-chapters-to-the-banjo-s-history-part-of-it-are-the/) [Bela Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-fleck/) > [Personally I prefer Gospel music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-gaynor/personally-i-prefer-gospel-music/) [Gloria Gaynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-gaynor/) > [I listen to gospel music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-listen-to-gospel-music/) [Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/) > [Music was in the air when I was growing up. My siblings Katy, Dave and Phil were musical; my dad worked in inner-city New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-barry/music-was-in-the-air-when-i-was-growing-up-my-siblings-katy-dave-and/) [Sam Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-barry/) > [My mother was into church so she listens to gospel music. 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I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/i-m-not-ashamed-or-embarrassed-i-m-happy-that-i-grew-up-listening-to/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [To me, Gospel music is really any music that's a testimony and tells a story of what God has done in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-allen/to-me-gospel-music-is-really-any-music-that-s-a-testimony-and-tells-a/) [Laura Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-allen/) > [Well, I've always said that country music has always shared a very unique relationship with gospel music - the hooting and hollering, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/well-i-ve-always-said-that-country-music-has-always-shared-a-very/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [I listened to gospel music because that was just our culture, you know? My parents are pastors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masego/i-listened-to-gospel-music-because-that-was-just-our-culture-you-know/) [Masego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masego/) ## More by Mahalia Jackson > [Do you know most of the Jewish songs have the same trend of sadness as Negro spirituals?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahalia-jackson/do-you-know-most-of-the-jewish-songs-have-the-same-trend-of-sadness/) [Mahalia Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahalia-jackson/) > [The mind and the voice by themselves are not sufficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahalia-jackson/the-mind-and-the-voice-by-themselves-are-not-sufficient/) [Mahalia Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahalia-jackson/) > [A great influence in my life was the sanctified or Holiness churches...Everybody in there sang and they clapped and stomped heir feet and sang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahalia-jackson/a-great-influence-in-my-life-was-the-sanctified-or-holiness-churches/) [Mahalia Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahalia-jackson/) > [The trouble with records is that they're too short.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahalia-jackson/the-trouble-with-records-is-that-they-re-too-short/) [Mahalia Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahalia-jackson/) > [I'll come to any benefit if I see SCLC get all the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahalia-jackson/i-ll-come-to-any-benefit-if-i-see-sclc-get-all-the-money/) [Mahalia Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahalia-jackson/) > [God can make you anything you want to be, but you have to put everything in his hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahalia-jackson/god-can-make-you-anything-you-want-to-be-but-you-have-to-put/) [Mahalia Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahalia-jackson/) > [How can you sing of amazing grace and all God's wonders without using your hands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahalia-jackson/how-can-you-sing-of-amazing-grace-and-all-god-s-wonders-without-using/) [Mahalia Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahalia-jackson/) > [Gospel songs are the songs of hope. When you sing gospel you have the feeling there is a cure for what's wrong, but when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahalia-jackson/gospel-songs-are-the-songs-of-hope-when-you-sing-gospel-you-have-the/) [Mahalia Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahalia-jackson/) > [If you believe in God, He will open the windows of heaven and pour blessings upon you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahalia-jackson/if-you-believe-in-god-he-will-open-the-windows-of-heaven-and-pour/) [Mahalia Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahalia-jackson/) > [How can you sing of Amazing Grace? How can you sing prayerfully of heaven and earth and all God's wonders without using your hands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahalia-jackson/how-can-you-sing-of-amazing-grace-how-can-you-sing-prayerfully-of/) [Mahalia Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahalia-jackson/) > [Anybody that sings the blues is in a deep pit, yelling for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahalia-jackson/anybody-that-sings-the-blues-is-in-a-deep-pit-yelling-for-help/) [Mahalia Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahalia-jackson/) > [Time is important to me because I want to sing long enough to leave a message. I'm used to singing in churches where nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahalia-jackson/time-is-important-to-me-because-i-want-to-sing-long-enough-to-leave-a/) [Mahalia Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahalia-jackson/) > [Someday the sun is going to shine down on me in some faraway place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahalia-jackson/someday-the-sun-is-going-to-shine-down-on-me-in-some-faraway-place/) [Mahalia Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahalia-jackson/) > [Gospel music in those days of the early 1930s was really taking wing. It was the kind of music colored people had left behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahalia-jackson/gospel-music-in-those-days-of-the-early-1930s-was-really-taking-wing/) [Mahalia Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahalia-jackson/) > [Faith and prayer are the vitamins of the soul; man cannot live in health without them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahalia-jackson/faith-and-prayer-are-the-vitamins-of-the-soul-man-cannot-live-in/) [Mahalia Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahalia-jackson/) [Explore all 43 Mahalia Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahalia-jackson/) ## More Christianity quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“God hates Hell. 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The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“every church can treat each discipleship class and each worship service as an opportunity for continual rehearsal of what the words, stories, symbols, rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/every-church-can-treat-each-discipleship-class-and-each-worship/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. 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