Which elements did slaves fuse with traditional christian spirituals to create a new musical tradition?

African rythms and melodies is the correct answer.

Negro Spiritual is one of the greatest and most significant forms of American folksong. Back in Africa, music played an important role in people's lives. But, North American colonists didn't approve of the way slaves worshipped, they considered it to be wild and idolatrous. Therefore, they often banned their gatherings (even though many slaves still conducted their worship in a clandestine manner). As a result, the slaves fused African rythms and melodies with traditional Christian spirituals to create a new musical tradition to express their faith, hopes and sorrows.