Juxtapositioning of Christianity and African Traditional Religion: a study of Christian leaders and ‘Sangomahood’

Abstract

The developed realisation that Christianity, in Africa, is being juxtaposed with African Traditional Religion does not seem to sit well, and has tended to create some discomfort for both conservative Christians and rigorist African religionists. The fundamental consensus between these two religious traditions is that Christianity and African Traditional Religion are a paradox; therefore, they do not synthesise. However, this appears to contradict the nominalist view, which postulates that these two religious traditions – Christianity and African Traditional Religion, are compatible and are, in fact, two related systems of thought and practice. These varying perceptions therefore, appear to ground one’s understanding and interpretation of the juxtapositioning of Christianity and African Traditional Religion. In most cases, such understandings and interpretations tend to be absolute and tend to undermine the inside perspective. This implies that both conservative Christians and rigorist African religionists often see a clear cut between Christianity and African Traditional Religion, but nominal Christians allude to a grey area, which is often not necessarily explored. This research study, therefore, was undertaken to explore this grey area. This study explored the emic perspectives of people who juxtapose Christianity and African traditional spirituality, and assumed dual roles as church leaders and Sangomas. A qualitative research approach, which was underpinned by phenomenology as the meta-theoretical foundations, was used for the study. The main purpose was to examine how participants find meaning and interpret their spirituality, given the fact that they assume dual roles within a space where such roles are perceived as opposing. The findings of the study revealed that the juxtapositioning of Christianity and African Traditional Religion served as an existential mechanism used by African Christians to avoid anomie and that there is no disparity between Church leadership and ‘Sangomahood’, as both Christianity and African Traditional Religion are understood to be two related systems of thought and practice by most nominal Christians. Based on the findings of this research, this study proposed a new paradigmatic model in which to understand and interpret the lived experiences of the participants who juxtaposed Christianity and African Traditional Religion. This paradigmatic model rests on the notion of ‘hybridity’ rather than syncretism as a popular concept. Thus, this research study critically examined the lived experiences of participants who juxtaposed Christianity and African Traditional Religion, and were church leaders and Sangomas.