Death and After-life Rituals in the eyes of the Shona - OPUS4

380 Pages·2011·21.8 MB·English

by  Mwandayi, Canisius

6
BiAS - Bible in Africa Studies
DEATH AND AFTER-LIFE RITUALS
IN THE EYES OF THE SHONA
Dialogue with Shona Customs in the Quest for Authentic Inculturation
Canisius Mwandayi
UNIVERSITY OF
BAMBERG
PRESS
Bible in Africa Studies

Études sur la Bible en Afrique
Bibel-in-Afrika-Studien

6
Bible in Africa Studies

Études sur la Bible en Afrique
Bibel-in-Afrika-Studien

edited
by

Joachim Kügler, Lovemore Togarasei, Masiiwa R. Gunda
& Eric Souga Onomo

in
cooperation
with
Ezra Chitando
and
Nisbert Taringa

Volume 6

University of Bamberg Press 2011
Death and After-life Rituals in the eyes of the Shona
Dialogue with Shona Customs in the Quest for
Authentic Inculturation

b y
Canisius M wandayi

University of Bamberg Press 2011
Bibliographische Information der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek
Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek verzeichnet diese Publikation in der
Deutschen Nationalbibliographie; detaillierte bibliographische Informationen
sind im Internet über http://dnb.ddb.de/ abrufbar

Diese Arbeit wurde von der Fakultät Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft der Universität Bayreuth als
Doktorarbeit unter dem Titel “Death and After-life Rituals in the eyes of the Shona: Dialogue with Shona
Customs with the Quest for Authentic Inculturation” angenommen.
1. Gutachter: Prof. Dr. Joachim Kügler
2. Gutachter: Prof. Dr. Thomas Bargatzky
Tag der mündlichen Promotionsprüfung: 1. Juli 2011

Dieses Werk ist als freie Onlineversion über den Hochschulschriften-Server
(OPUS; http://www.opus-bayern.de/uni-bamberg/) der Universitätsbiblio-
thek Bamberg erreichbar. Kopien und Ausdrucke dürfen nur zum privaten
und sonstigen eigenen Gebrauch angefertigt werden.

Herstellung und Druck: docupoint, Magdeburg
Umschlagfoto: © C. Mwandayi (Grabstein in Deutschland)
Umschlaggestaltung: Joachim Kügler/Dezernat Kommunikation und Alumni
Text-Formatierung: C. Mwandayi/I. Loch/J. Kügler

© University of Bamberg Press Bamberg 2011
http://www.uni-bamberg.de/ubp/

ISSN: 2190-4944
ISBN: 978-3-86309-029-6 (Druckausgabe)
eISBN: 978-3-86309-030-2 (Online-Ausgabe)
URN: urn:nbn:de:bvb:473-opus-3336
CONTENTS

Abbreviations................................................................................................10

Acknowledgements......................................................................................11

Summary in German/ Deutsche Zusammenfassung.................................12

INTRODUCTION .......................................................................23

Justification of Study....................................................................................25

Scope of the Study and link with previous works........................................27

Structure and Methodology..........................................................................31

Limitations of the Study...............................................................................35
CHAPTER ONE

DEFINITIONS AND SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION..37

Introduction..................................................................................................37

Shona people................................................................................................37

Karanga...........................................................................................................44

Manyika...........................................................................................................45

Korekore..........................................................................................................47

Zezuru.............................................................................................................48

Ndau...............................................................................................................49

The contemporary Shona people...................................................................51

Funeral rituals...............................................................................................54

Ritual...............................................................................................................54

Death rituals among the Shona.....................................................................56

Therapeutic role of Shona funeral rituals.......................................................57

African Traditional Religion..........................................................................57

‘African’...........................................................................................................58

‘Religion’.........................................................................................................59

‘Traditional’.....................................................................................................61

Shona Traditional Religion.............................................................................63

Dialogue........................................................................................................63

Who Should Participate?................................................................................65

What should Participants expect from the Dialogue?...................................66

How Inter-religious Dialogue should be conducted......................................67

Dialogue with African Traditional religion.....................................................68

Obstacles to dialogue with ATR.....................................................................69

Types of dialogue in view of ATR...................................................................72

Inculturation.................................................................................................75
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Challenges of liturgical inculturation.............................................................79

Methods of inculturation................................................................................81

Creative Assimilation......................................................................................81

Dynamic Equivalence.....................................................................................83

Conclusion....................................................................................................84
CHAPTER TWO
INITIAL ATTEMPTS AT INCULTURATION OF SHONA

TRADITIONAL CUSTOMS: SUCCESSES AND FAILURES .......85

Introduction..................................................................................................85

Overview of the missionary enterprise among the Shona..........................86

Colonial influence on missionaries................................................................88

Missionaries as conscientious objectors.......................................................95

The emergence of African Christian consciousness.................................103

Chitenderano chitsva (New Testament)......................................................111

Music............................................................................................................112

Kurova guva..................................................................................................114

The Christianised Kuchenura Munhu rite.................................................121

Catechesis.....................................................................................................121
To offer to the vadzimu:

What do the Shona mean when they say ‘offer’?.........................................122

The thinking of Christians concerning the dead..........................................123

Inheritance...................................................................................................123

Goat of anger and provision........................................................................124
Reception of the rite

and subsequent discussions leading to a stalemate.................................125

Conclusion..................................................................................................132
CHAPTER THREE
A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE SCRIPTURAL TEXTS USED IN

THE DISMISSAL OF NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS............134

Introduction................................................................................................134

Savoury Texts to Missionaries...................................................................135

The Social and Historical Context of Monotheism...................................137

Critique on the Missionary Approach........................................................146

Special Focus on the Mavhudzi-Muchabaiwa school...............................151

Divination and Sorcery in Israel...................................................................154

Divination in Shona religion.........................................................................157

Necromancy..................................................................................................159
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Conclusion..................................................................................................168
CHAPTER FOUR

CHURCH’S TEACHING ON SALVATION.............................169

Introduction................................................................................................169

The Church’s understanding of salvation prior to Vatican II....................170

Salvation from the perspective of Vatican II (1963-1965)..........................175

Church’s relation to non-Catholic Christians...............................................176

The Church’s relation to non-Christian religions.........................................178

Theological Input..........................................................................................180

African Synod................................................................................................187

The Church’s unique role in the face of other religions............................188

Conclusion..................................................................................................192
CHAPTER FIVE

THE SALVIFIC VALUES IN SHONA FUNERAL RITES...........194

Introduction................................................................................................194

General notions on culture dynamics........................................................194

Substitution..................................................................................................196

Loss...............................................................................................................196

Incrementation.............................................................................................197

Fusion...........................................................................................................197

Persistence....................................................................................................197

Pre-burial rites............................................................................................199

Kupeta Ritual................................................................................................200

Mourning Ritual............................................................................................201

Salvific values in pre-burial rites................................................................203

Respect for life..............................................................................................204

Sacredness of the verbal last testament......................................................205

No dualism...................................................................................................206

Sense of community.....................................................................................207

Richness of symbolism.................................................................................208

Burial rites...................................................................................................210

Times for burial............................................................................................210

Procession to the graveyard.........................................................................210

The burial itself.............................................................................................211

Rumuko.........................................................................................................212

Gata ceremony..............................................................................................212

Rite of purification........................................................................................213

Rite of a person who dies away from home.................................................214
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Salvific values in burial rites......................................................................215

Spiritual view of life......................................................................................215

Admission that no one is perfect.................................................................216

Belief in the existence of an evil force..........................................................216

Responsibility of the living for the success of the deceased’s journey.......217

Respect for the place of the dead.................................................................217

Post-burial rites..........................................................................................218

Kurova guva ritual.........................................................................................218

Inheritance ceremony...................................................................................219

Rituals of honour..........................................................................................220

Rituals of Appeasement...............................................................................221

Salvific values in post-burial rites..............................................................222

Immortality of the spirit...............................................................................222

Communion of the living and the dead.......................................................223

Sense of family bondedness.........................................................................224

Respect for the role played by the father......................................................225

Progeny should be looked after....................................................................225

Our interaction with the dead should not be a one time event...................226

Faithfulness to one’s obligations.................................................................226

Conclusion..................................................................................................227
CHAPTER SIX
THE TRADITIONAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONER

AND HIS/HER PROFESSION..............................................229

Introduction................................................................................................229

Traditional medical practitioner as the victim of scathing attacks...........229

Factors favouring a rebounce of traditional healers..................................234

The fight for legal recognition....................................................................236

Becoming a traditional healer....................................................................240

Spirit possession..........................................................................................240

Apprenticeship..............................................................................................243

Njuzu (river) spirits......................................................................................244

Dreams.........................................................................................................245

The code of conduct...................................................................................245

Social functions of a traditional healer......................................................248

A doctor in sickness.....................................................................................249

A priest in religious matters.........................................................................249

A lawyer in legal issues.................................................................................250

A policeman/woman in the detection and prevention of crime..................250

A possessor of magical charms for the good of others...............................252
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A psycho-therapist and exorcist...................................................................252

General remarks on the profession of traditional healers.........................254

Areas of possible collaboration between priests and traditional healers..256

Healing and deliverance...............................................................................256

Ministry to the dying and the dead..............................................................259

Conclusion..................................................................................................262
CHAPTER SEVEN
APPLYING THE INCARNATIONAL PRINCIPLE TO SHONA

FUNERARY CUSTOMS........................................................263

Introduction................................................................................................263

Integration Approach..................................................................................264

Dynamic Equivalence...................................................................................265

Creative Assimilation....................................................................................269

Independent/Compartmentalisation Approach.........................................278

Substitution Approach................................................................................285

Mourning and burial of priests and nuns....................................................286

Nyaradzo.......................................................................................................288

Unveiling of the Tombstone.........................................................................289

Conclusion..................................................................................................291
CHAPTER EIGHT

SUMMARY AND CONCLUDING REMARKS.........................293

BIBLIOGRAPHY.......................................................................305

APPENDIX A............................................................................315

APPENDIX B............................................................................327

APPENDIX C............................................................................329

APPENDIX D............................................................................343

APPENDIX E............................................................................349

APPENDIX F............................................................................352

INDEX OF SUBJECTS...............................................................372

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES........................................................375
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