The Role and Meaning of Birth. Naming, Initiation, Marriage and Death Rituals Among the Logoli of

253 Pages·2017·30.09 MB·English

UNIVERSITY OF AIROBI
DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES
THE ROLE AND MEANING OF BffiTH, NAMING, INITIATION,
MARRIAGE AND DEATH RITUALS AMONG THE LOGOLI
OF WESTERN KENYA IN VIEW OF INCULTURATING RELATED
SACRAMENTS IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
BY KA YELl, EDITH CHAMWA MA
A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE DEGREE OF
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES
October 2012
ITLE: T ROLE ME G OF BIRTH, , INITIATIO , MARRIAG
A D DE TH RIT AL 0 G THE LOGOLI OF TE KE A
VIE OF IN TURA TING REL TED ACRAME T IN THE ROMAN
ATHOLI CHURCH
BY
KAYELI,E.C
REG 0: C/80/80041/2008
I the undersigned declare that this is my original Study and has not been submitted to
any college or University for academic credit.
Information from other sources and my main respondents has been duly acknowledged.
Signed: ~~ Date ~oc.klo ~ P
This S~udy has b en submitted for examination with my approjf as University
/tJ.
supems
z;
(fl~(~/A iDI~
Fr. r. . . Wachege -First Supervisor Date
~ (lte~
'VDtb/
Dr. P.M. Mumo- econd Supervisor
TABL OF 0 E
TUDE DE L TIO ........................................................................................ i
TABLE OF CONTE T ................................................................................................. ii
DEDIC TIO .................................................................................................................. i
c
OWLEDGE ........................................................................................... Vll
RO AND ABBREV TIO ........................................................................ I
0 G DEFINITIO OF KEY CO EPT ...................................................... ii
vi
CHAPTERO
B CKGRO TO THE TUDY
1.1 Background To The Problem ................................................................................ 1
1.2 tatement Of The Problem .................................................................................... 5
1.3 Goal And Objective Of The tud ....................................................................... 6
1.4 Ju tification Of The tudy ..................................................................................... 7
1.5 cope And Limitation ......................................................................................... 10
1.6 Literature Review ................................................................................................. 10
1.6.1 Birth ................................................................................................................ 10
1.6.2 arning ............................................................................................................ 14
1.6.3 Initiation into Adulthood ................................................................................. 16
1.6.4 Marriage ...................................................................................................... 1617
1.6.5 Death ............................................................................................................... 19
1.6.6 Inculturation .................................................................................................... 21
1.7 Conceptual And Theoretical Framework ........................................................... 25
1.8 Research Hypothe es ............................................................................................ 29
1.9.0 Methodology ....................................................................................................... 29
1.9.1 Research Design ............................................................................................... 29
1.9.2 ampling Procedures ....................................................................................... 30
1.9.3 Data Collection Methods ................................................................................. 30
1.9.4 Data analysis interpretation and presentation ................................................. 31
HAPTERTWO
THE ROLE AND ME G OFPREG CY, BIRTH, AMING
Tl TIO , MARRIAGE AND DEATH RIT AL AMO G THE LOGOLI
2.0 ocio- Hi torical, Cultural, and Religiou Background of the Logoli .............. 32
2.1 The role and meaning of Pregnancy ritual ....................................................... 35
2.2 The role and meaning of Birth ritual ................................................................ 44
2.3 The role and meaning of aming rituals ............................................................ 52
2.3.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 52
2.3.1 aming among the Logoli ............................................................................... 53
2.3.2 Process of aming ........................................................................................... 54
11
2.3.3 aming as an Identity and Incorporation into a Lineage ................................. 56
2.3.4 aming as a way of preserving life force ........................................................ 57
2.3.5 Liswakila ritual ................................................................................................ 62
Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 64
2.4 Initiation into Adulthood ...................................................................................... 65
2.4.1 Initiation into Adulthood among the Logoli ................................................... 66
2.4.2 Religious ignificance of the Initiation into adulthood rituals ........................ 76
2.5 Role and meaning of Marriage rituals ................................................................ 77
2.5.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 77
2.5.1 Courtship .......................................................................................................... 77
2.5.2 Bridewealth ...................................................................................................... 83
2.5.3 Wedding ........................................................................................................... 90
2.5.4 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 94
2.6 The role and meaning of Death rituals ............................................................... 95
2.6.1 Mourning Rituals ............................................................................................. 95
2.6.2 Funeral Rituals ............................................................................................... 102
2.6.3 Ancestors in Logoli culture ............................................................................ I 08
General Conclu ion ................................................................................................... 111
CHAPTER THREE
TEACHINGS OF THE ROMAN CAT BOLIC CHURCH ON AND ABO T
INCUL TURATIO AND THE INITIATION SACRAMENT
3.1 The RCC's Teaching On And About Inculturation ........................................ 113
3.1.1 The Nature oflnculturation ........................................................................... 114
3.1.2 Vatican 1 s Teaching on/Understanding of Theology ................................... 116
3.1.3 Vatican 11 s Teaching on Inculturation Through Ad Gentes, Art. 22 ........... 118
3.1.4 Vatican 11 s Teaching on Inculturation Through Optatam Totius, Art. 16 ... 119
3.1.5 Pope PaulVl s Teaching on lnculturation Through Africae Terrarium-
October, 1957 ................................................................................................. 120
3.1.6 Pope Paul V 1 s Teaching on Inculturation Through Kampala Address- 3151
July 1969 and Message to Africa and Madagascar- 28lh October 1977 ......... 121
3.1.7 Pope John Paull! s Teaching on lnculturation Through Address to the
Bishops of Zaire in 1980 and Address to the Bishops of Zaire in 1983 ......... 122
3.1.8 Pope John Paul 11 s Teaching on lnculturation Through Address at the
Opening ofC.H.I.E.A. in 1985 ....................................................................... 123
iii
3.1.9 Pope John Paul 11 s Teaching on Inculturation Through Eccle ia in Africa-
14th eptember 1995 ....................................................................................... 123
3.1.1 0 Pope John Paulll s Teaching on lnculturation Through Fides et Ratio- 14lh
eptember 1998 .............................................................................................. 124
3:2 The RC ' Teaching On And About The acrament ................................... 127
3.2.1 Introductory Reflections ................................................................................ 127
3.2.2 lnitiatic Rite of Baptism: The Teaching of the Roman Catholic Church ...... 129
3.2.3 Initiatic Rite of confirmation: The teaching of the Roman Catholic Church 136
3.2.4 Vatican ll and Post Vatican ll Instructions on the Eucharistic Initiation
Sacrament ....................................................................................................... 143
3.2.5 Sacrament ofMarriage ................................................................................... 151
3.2.6 Roman Catholic Church teachings on Death ................................................. 157
3.3 General Conclu ion ............................................................................................. 165
CHAPTER FOUR
INTEGRATING LOGOLI TRADITIO AL RITES OF BIRTH, NAMING,
INITIA TIO , MARRIAGE AND DEATH RIT AL IN VIEW OF
INCULTURATING RELATED SACRAME TS IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC
CHURCH
4.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 167
4.1 Roman Catholic Church in Kenya .................................................................... 167
4.1.1 Roman Catholic Church in Western Kenya ................................................... 169
4.2 Exploring the Liberation Motif ......................................................................... 174
4.3 Integrating traditional rites of birth, naming, initiation to adulthood marriage
and death in the Catholic doctrine among the Logoli through Inculturation ..... 178
4.3.1 Inculturation in the Roman Catholic Church in Africa .................................. 180
4.3.2 Roots oflnculturation in Western Kenya ...................................................... 181
4.3.3 Relevance ofloculturation as a strategy for liberation .................................. 182
4.4 Ioculturating Logoli Birth arning Initiation into Adulthood Marriage and
Death Rituals .................................................................................................. 186
Concluding Remarks ............................................................................................... 194
CHAPTER FIVE
SPIRITUAL, CATECHETICAL AND PA TORAL IMPLICATIO S
OF THE TUDY
5.1 Spiritual Relevance of the Study ....................................................................... 198
5.2. Catecbetical Relevance ofthe Study ................................................................ 202
5. 3 Pastoral Implications of the Study ................................................................... 204
lV
HAPTER I
R RE 0 DATIO DCO CL 10
6.1 ummary ........................................................................................................... 209
6.2. Recommendations ............................................................................................ 210
6. 3 Brief General Conclusion and Areas for Further Research ............................. 213
BIDLIOGRAPHY ......................................................................................................... 216
GLO ARRY OF TERM ............................................................................................ 222
APPEND ONE .......................................................................................................... 227
APPENDIX TWO ......................................................................................................... 228
APPE DIX THREE .................... _.. .............................................................................. 229
v
DEDIC TIO
To Ruth Ian Brian and Barry
May this work be an impetus to be the best you can be.
Vl
First and foremost, I thank the Omniscient God for gratuitously endowing me with th
gift of knowledge and an opportunity for ad ancing and realizing my academic potenc
at the Department of Philosoph and Religious Studies in the Uni ersity of airobi
Kenya.
I am grateful to my wonderful family -both nuclear and lineal- who have spurred me on
and supported me through prayers encouragement, and for being very understanding for
all those times I was away from them as I undertook this tudy.
Immense gratitude is due to my First Supervisor, Fr. Dr. P. . Wachege. His tireless
guidance encouragement and constructive criticisms challenges and dialogue were most
helpful in shaping this Study to what it is. I am moreo er indebted to him for generously
allowing me to access his Little Eden Home Library on numerous occasions. The serene
and tranquil environment of his home was very conducive in both academic and spiritual
realms.
Furthermore, I am thankful to my Second Supervisor Dr. P. M. Mumo for his guidance
and direction towards the completion of this academic work. I am also grateful to the
Director of Maryknoll Institute of African Studies (MIAS) Prof. Michael C. Kirwen for
his support encouragement and understanding.
In addition to the above I express my appreciation to all my lecturers in the Department
of Philosophy and Religious tudies for disposing me well in this academic journey
culminating in the realization of this work.
Furthermore I am greatly indebted to my informants from Vihiga particularly the Logoli
elders for generously instructing me with regard to the anthropological issues which
were of immense importance for this kind of study. In this regard, I also thank my field
assistants led by Alex Anubi for their assistance in directing me to the main respondents
in my field work.
vii
Last but not least, I am grateful to all the writers whose related works enriched the study
as well as my colleagues at MIA and Tangaza College who in on way or th other were
instrumental in th completion of this tudy.
To all of the above and those I was not able to mention, I say: May the Almighty God
bless you.
Vlll
CRO BBRE TO
A African Christian tucties.
AFER African Ecclesiastical Review.
AMECEA Association of Member Episcopal Conference in Eastern Africa
AGD Ad Gente Divinitu (Decree on the Church's missionary activity issued on 71h
Dec. 1965.
CCC Catechism of the Catholic Church.
CHIEA Catholic Higher Institute of Eastern Africa.
CUEA Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
DB Dictionary of the Bible.
DBT Dictionary of Biblical Theology.
DNf Dictionary of the New Testament.
DV Dei Verbum (Dogmatic constitution on Divine revelation issued on 18 Nov.
1965).
D Denzinger Schonmentzer, Enchiridion symbolorum, definitionum et
declarationum de rebus fidei el morum.
EBT Encyclopedia of Biblical Theology.
lX