Browsing by Author "Kwenda, Chirevo"

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    The attitude of the Anglican church of Uganda to the new religious movements and in particular to the Bacwezi-Bashomi in South Western Uganda 1960-1995
    (1997) Ndyabahika, James N; Kwenda, Chirevo
    The central theme of this doctoral thesis is the Attitude of the Anglican Church of Uganda to the New Religious Movements and in particular to the Bacwezi-Bashomi in south-western Uganda, 1960-1995. Since the 1960's Uganda has been witnessing a wave of new religious movements stressing healing and exorcism and to date are attracting a large following. Although the literature on these movements is still scanty with no attempt having been made in the area of academics, the researcher investigated this topic at some considerable length (assisted by six research assistants) using primary and secondary sources a task he has carried out with a sense of satisfaction. In the area of scholarship, he has published articles in Occasional Research Papers - Makerere University (Volume 14); African Journal of Theology (1991): 54-62; Asian Journal of Theology (1991): 136-148 and African Journal of Evangelical theology (1993): 18-40. Currently, he is a lecturer at Makerere University. This thesis is developed in six chapters with intent to establish whether the Bacwezi-Bashomi Movement is a challenge to Christianity or its followers are from the Roman Catholic Church or it is a pseudo-religious group or an independent church. It highlights that apart from the Balokole (born again Christians), abazukufu (the reawakened Christians), Pentecostal preachers and the charismatic renewal believers; many Christians who hardly take their faith and baptismal calling seriously claim that Christianity has failed to provide solutions to their chaotic existence, economic and socio-religious issues, hence the rush to these new religious movements and in particular to the Bacwezi-Bashomi. Defection is caused by the inability to grasp seriously the biblical teachings and the failure to get down-to-earth philosophical explanations. The study then discusses the historical growth of the Movement, highlights the attitudes of the mainline churches and concludes with recommendations and vision of the Anglican Church in Uganda. Now, the mainline churches are urged to foster the Christian faith that addresses the contemporary issues which engulf the indigenous people; to take the traditional healing and the indigenous medicine seriously; and to enhance a fruitful dialogue with the new religious movements, nominal Christians, abalokole and the followers of the Bacwezi-Bashomi Movement leading to mutual respect and understanding. Lastly, owing to the scarcity of in-depth academic studies, there is a need for serious research by church historians, sociologists, missiologists and pastors, hence the justification for this thesis.
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    Culture and religion constrain women in the academic sphere : the case of Lesotho
    (2004) Ramalefane, Thotoane Rosalia; Kwenda, Chirevo
    The subjugation of women dates back to ancient times. Through the centuries the suppression of women has taken different forms. With a few exceptions most African societies are patriarchal in character. They relegate women to a minor position and subject them to the guardianship of male partners. Traditionally, men were regarded as senior to women irrespective of age. This tradition of men regarding themselves as superior to women has its roots in our socio-cultural norms in Lesotho. Culturally men are regarded by society as superior to women. This perception of men is transferred to the work situation. Consequently, even at work, men are perceived as 'strong' and 'powerful.' In the higher institutions of Lesotho, there is now awareness that the proportion of academic women in senior positions remains small by comparison to that of men. A large number of women are found at the lower end of the scale. Despite the fact that Basotho women are more educated than their male counterparts The study argues that women's slow progress in upward mobility in the employment sector is attributed to a combination of factors. This study therefore, seeks to: * Explore the factors which constrain women to occupy the senior positions of the academic hierarchy and senior administrative positions within the academy; * Investigates the framework of attitudes and beliefs that undermines the status and the role that women have and continue to have in Lesotho in general, the academic sphere in particular; * Suggest steps, which could be taken towards the amelioration of the present undesirable situation in the academic sphere. Feminist research was chosen as the theoretical/conceptual framework of the study. The importance of this framework is that it uses the concept of gender as an analytical category. Feminist construction methodology through the use of qualitative paradigm was used as an appropriate tool for the purposes of obtaining in-depth information of the situation in Lesotho. As qualitative method comprises different methods, case study method was used to provide an in-depth examination of women's experiences as well as to provide the meaning of their experiences in the academic sphere. For data collection the study used both the primary and secondary methods. The primary includes the method of interviewing techniques. The interviews were in a form of a semi-structured schedule using open-ended questions. The documentary sources include documents relating to the government, public records and reports. Secondary methods include the literature, internet, and journals. A total number of sixteen women were interviewed using an in-depth interview schedule. The analysis of data was informed by the grounded theory. The findings of this study are that discrimination against women is a norm and that women perceived themselves to be oppressed by the patriarchal relations. Women have been brought up in such a way that they feel they are socially inferior to their male counterparts and tend to have a low self-esteem. Basotho customs and religious practices all play a role in reinforcing the lower status of women. All these are transferred to the workplace. In the academic sphere there is that great disparity of sex segregation between men and women. It is indeed possible that the most effective way of influencing employment behaviour is so far as it relates females may be to concentrate on modifying the sex in family rather than by means of legislation directed to the operation of the labour market itself on which government have traditionally placed reliance and emphasis.
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    Heavenly conversation in cosmic language
    (1997) Madlala, Mbusiswa Hezekiah; Kwenda, Chirevo
    This study focuses on the centrality of the Logos theme in the prologue of the Fourth Gospel. The study demonstrates that the author of John's Gospel is keen to present to his audience the uniqueness of the Word which became 'umuntu' or 'flesh'. Apparently, the author of the Gospel is in interlocution with various strands in his audience who have a different understanding of the Logos. Second, we discern a movement that ascends from verse 12 which is seen as the proof of the prologue. In his ascension, the Logos dwells, embraces, and befriends those who accept him. The dialectic between those who reject him and those who accept him calls for a sociolinguistic approach in order to highlight what the discourse of the author is all about. The methodology that is employed in this study is that of sociolinguistics, and with the emphasis being on antilanguage. John consciously uses a dialogical method in order to distinguish between those who speak the language of the rejection of Jesus, and those whose language is different from the opponents of Jesus.
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    Restoration of land : towards a biblical jubilee in South Africa
    (1997) Malebe, George Nzimbeni; Kwenda, Chirevo
    Land restitution is an inevitable consequence of the new dispensation in South Africa. Restitution aims to return people to land dispossessed because of racial laws corresponding to the Land Act of 1913. An alternative is to compensate the victims in other appropriate mechanisms. In facilitating this aspiration the present study proposes, as a solution, the biblical Jubilee as in (Leviticus 25) reiterated by Jesus in (Luke 4:16-30) and further adopted by the Christian Tradition as a theological submission. The Jubilee concept, from its biblical inception, was designed to resolve the landlessness experienced by deprived Jews in ancient Israel. This model has been adopted by various scholars as a guideline in solving similar problems in modern societies. A theological view is deemed necessary since the legal, political, economic, and agricultural systems have failed to emphasise the moral dimension in reparation and land restitution. The Christian Church in South Africa is identified as the prime facilitator in this country's nation building process. It should therefore assume a leadership role in this process through, in this instance, translating the Jubilee concept in the transformation in our modern society.
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    The role of African traditional religion in the promotion of human rights
    (2002) Mushishi, Clifford; Kwenda, Chirevo
    This study examines the role of African traditional religion in the promotion of human rights in Africa generally and among the Shona people of Zimbabwe in particular.
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    The Soothsayers (Bambuki) and the Christian prayer petitioners (Balombi) : a comparative and evaluative study of healing in the Luba Katanga area
    (2005) Kasongo, Lenge Kansempe; Kwenda, Chirevo
    This research offers a view of an aspect of life of Luba people who inhabit the Katanga Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo in an attempt to compare and evaluate the healing system of co-existent groupings influenced by Bambuki and Balombi. This thesis seeks to compare and evaluate the theology and healing practices of Bambuki and Balombi in order to establish differences and similarities. The study contributes to the liberation of Luba people from western alienation, which considers the Bambuki as demonic.
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    South African women's theologies of hope in the new struggle against HIV/AIDS
    (2006) Williams, Kim; Kwenda, Chirevo
    South Africa has been hard hit by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This pandemic has had many sectors in society mobilizing and creating awareness around prevention and the effects of HIV/AIDS. One such sector is the religious community, which, with all its diversity, has tried to address the issues that stem from this pandemic. This mmor dissertation looks at the South African situation of HIV I AIDS from a gendered religious perspective, the perspective of South African Christian women's theologies. It further catalogs the research to Anglican women in Cape Town. This study aims to find the participatory levels and status of Christian Anglican women in the church's mobilization activities and decision making. Through this study two main theologies are explored, African women's theology and the theology of Hope.
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    The Southern Sotho's ultimate object of worship : sky-divinity or water-divinity?
    (2001) Rakotsoane, Francis Lobiane Clement; Kwenda, Chirevo
    This thesis is an attempt to find out how much justified the missionaries and some local authors are in identifying Molimo with their Christian God (Sky-Divinity). A critical analysis of various Basotho cultural elements and what the early Basotho told the missionaries reveal that Molimo as an ultimate object of worship in the traditional religion of the Southern Sotho, is Water-Divinity, namely, Water Snake and not a celestial being or Sky-Divinity.
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    Understanding the nature of sacred space from the African traditional religious perspective : challenges of spatial management
    (2005) Zenani, Vuyisile John; Kwenda, Chirevo
    This study aims to explore the challenges that face land use and land management in the context of the new South Africa. Approached from the African traditional religious angle the study will propose, among others, a new approach to land management and land designation. The study draws insights from literature on religious meaning of land and interviews conducted with two African traditional healers from two different black communities. The study introduces a new concept in land management, the concept of sacred space. (114-120 pages missing)
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    The worship of God in African traditional religion : a Nigerian perspective
    (1997) Kenan, John Sarauta; Kwenda, Chirevo
    To date numerous works in the African traditional religion have appeared In this devoted to the description of field many have been particular religion phenomena, while some have attempted to refute the beliefs and practices of the religion. But examining the effort of various investigators who have grappled with this task, one has the impression that they may have overlooked something. This something is bringing together the beliefs and practices of African traditional religion to form the worships in other world religions. It can be said the worship of God in Africa traditional religion is the very soul of African religion. This study attempts and examines what some scholars have written about African traditional religion, its beliefs and practices, and brought it together to form what may be called the worship of God in the religion. In constructing the purpose of this study, many writers have been used. Here the writer would like to mention some scholars by name, because much of their material have been constantly used. Such scholars as John S. Mbiti, Geoffrey Parrinder and Emmanuel, Bolaji Idowu. These writers recorded careful observation of African traditional religion, its beliefs and practices. This provides useful insights into the worship of God in the religion. In achieving the study, the problem of ancestor-worship has been discussed, although a final conclusion has not been reached, because it is an ongoing debate. The practices and believes have been discussed as the starting point of the worship in religion. The study observed particular practices which constitute the worship. These includes: sacrifice, offering, prayer and the religious leaders who performed the worship. To make what constitutes the worship complete, the spiritual aspect of it has also been discussed. At the end of the study, some suggestions and recommendations have been made so as to stimulate and motivate the African students undertaking the studies of African traditional religion. It is also a challenge to the students who are studying African theology.