1,721,101 research outputs found
African scholarship on African Pentecostalism in diasporic contexts: an overview
No full textThe chapter is a review of the writings of African scholars on Pentecostalism in the diaspora. It locates them within the larger context of academic interest in African Christianity in Europe. The chapter summarises the contribution of African scholars to the study of African Pentecostalism in the African Diaspora. It highlights the main themes they have covered and draws attention to some of the leading personalities in this field. The chapter also identifies some of the potential areas for further investigation in order to ensure that the field continues to be vibrant
Introduction
Full text linkThis chapter reflects on the religious material that has been appropriated and deployed in an effort to construct and fashion Zimbabwe’s ‘New Dispensation’. While acknowledging that the regime of Emmerson D. Mnangagwa emerged from a military takeover in 2017 and a heavily disputed election in 2018, the chapter reviews some of the major attempts to gain legitimacy directed at both the domestic and international audiences. It argues that religious ideas have been at the core of these attempts. The chapter examines the various strategies that the regime has used to manufacture consent and to self-present as heralding a superior moral regime in the country. Further, the chapter analyses the contestation of these strategies. It contributes to both theory formation and descriptions in relation to the deployment of religious ideologies for hegemony
Introduction: Religion-Regime Relations in Zimbabwe:Co-operation and Resistance
Full text linkThis chapter provides the background to the volume. It outlines the longstanding debate on the relationship between politics and religion in scholarship in general. The chapter illustrates how the debate has been handled in diverse contexts and draws out the implications for the discourse in Zimbabwe. It highlights how the concepts of politics and religion are inventions and states the volume’s preferred approach, namely regarding politics and religion as mutually interacting systems of power. It draws attention to how the post-Mugabe and post-Tsvangirai context in Zimbabwe calls for new investment in seeking to understand the politics-religion dynamic. Focusing on the dynamics of the “Second Republic,” the chapter describes how Emmerson Mnangagwa, the President, and Nelson Chamisa, his closest challenger, have appropriated and deployed religious ideas in their politics. It also summarises the chapters in the volume
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Ubuntu Virtues as a Coping Mechanism in the Face of Racism and Discrimination
Full text linkLiving in Western Europe for decades has compelled me to look back at my lived experience in societies where despite being successfully integrated, now and then, I am reminded that I do not fully belong. This experience contrasts with what I learned from my grandmothers, Sarah, and Martha. Growing up in Africa, they encouraged me to develop into an adult with Ubuntu. I was encouraged to espouse generosity, hospitality, friendliness, care, solidarity, and compassion. In this autoethnographic piece, I explore insights into what the Ubuntu worldview offers to Africans who face racism and discrimination in the West. I reflect on my experience as a co-opted racialised minority leader and draw on decades-long research on racialised minorities. As a starting point, I agree with Mbiti’s (1992, 2) argument that “to be human is to belong to the whole community, and to do so involves participating in the beliefs, ceremonies, rituals and festivals of that community”. Moreover, I suggest that racialised minorities should avoid naivety, work with others, be humble and aware of their position and avoid the trappings of tokenism
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Equity and the Ubuntu Worldview: Navigating Shared Responsibilities and Fostering Solidarity in the Face of Inequality in Ireland and the United Kingdom
Full text linkThe Ubuntu worldview places interconnectedness at the centre of life in the community. Inequality goes against the essence of solidarity and empathy and is an antidote to Ubuntu. Growing up in East Africa, I learned much about valuing societal equity from my community. After moving to Western Europe and getting embedded in community life, I have learnt that no matter where I find myself in the future, the fight against inequalities will be required. In this chapter, through an autoethnographic lens, I share my insights into how inspired by Ubuntu, I have been fighting inequalities through awareness raising, mentoring, action research and advocating alongside others experiencing or fighting inequalities. Involving people in privileged positions in my social practices, avoiding speaking on behalf of people experiencing inequalities, and collaborating with people taking a stand on inequalities similar and dissimilar to those I was working on are some of Ubuntu's contributions to my social practices
Introduction
Full text linkThis chapter introduces the volume. It summarises the key issues in the discourses on religion and human security in general, and in Africa in particular. The chapter describes the growing interest in religion and human security at the global level, then analyses how this has developed in Africa. It notes that a number of conferences on religion and human security have been held and that there is an increase in publications, although these tend to be scattered across different journals. It undertakes a review of factors that have a bearing on African scholars’ limited focus on religion and human security. The chapter proceeds to analyse key themes that are relevant to reflections on religion and human security in Africa. It probes the interface between religion and politics, the role of the media, women and globalisation. The chapter then summarises the major issues covered by various contributors and points to some possible areas for further research
Examining Pastor Evan Mawarire's #ThisFlag movement in Zimbabwe:Implications for understanding religion and human security
Full text linkThis chapter examines Pastor Evan Mawarire’s #ThisFlag movement in the context of religion and human security in Zimbabwe. It argues that the rapid expansion and popularity of the movement provides valuable insights into how religious groups can capitalise on their innate appeal and framing of human security, as well as pre-existing grievances and fault lines to challenge the authority of the state in particular contexts. Further, the chapter examines how the rhetorical power exhibited by Mawarire and how he located himself within the continuum of Zimbabwe’s liberation history appealed to many people in the country. The chapter explores the socio-economic and political context in which Mawarire’s movement thrived. It highlights how Mawarire’s preaching and activism focused on anti-corruption and lack of basic service. The chapter argues that understanding the success of Mawarire’s movement has implications for interpretations of the relationship between religion and human security
Teaching Religion and Human Security in Africa
Full text linkThis chapter seeks to reflect on how to teach a course on religion and human security in Africa and motivates by the observation made in African theology and religious studies’ engagement with HIV and AIDS. It expounds on the rationale for teaching religion and human security in Africa and examines the potential theoretical perspectives that can inform the teaching of the course. The chapter explores some of the major topics to be covered in religion and human security in Africa. Teaching religion and human security in Africa can contribute towards peace and development by facilitating actions that address the fault lines exploited by religious zealots to cause violence and terror. The chapter draws attention to the urgency of teaching religion and human security in Africa and outlines the motivation for offering such a course, as well as the major theoretical issues that need to be considered when preparing to teach the course
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