THE RITUAL LOOKING-GLASS: AN ANALYSIS OF THE GIRLS' PUBERTY CEREMONY IN THE NAZARETH CHURCH OF ISAIAH SHEMBE
The Nazareth Church of Isaiah Shembe, split in two in 1978 by an insoluble dispute between a son and grandson of the founder, has long included a girl's puberty rite in its religious calendar. The ritual both borrows from and departs from the traditional Zulu observance, but also draws on a Bib...
| Published in: | Journal for the study of religion |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
ASRSA
1992
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| In: |
Journal for the study of religion
|
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | The Nazareth Church of Isaiah Shembe, split in two in 1978 by an insoluble dispute between a son and grandson of the founder, has long included a girl's puberty rite in its religious calendar. The ritual both borrows from and departs from the traditional Zulu observance, but also draws on a Biblical meaning. An analysis of the ritual is presented here, based on its observed enactment in the branch of the church led by the grandson, Londa Shembe. The analysis highlights the themes of transition and renewal which closely correspond to the dominant preoccupations of Londa Shembe in his quest to carve out his definitive role as leader of the splinter-group. |
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| ISSN: | 2413-3027 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal for the study of religion
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