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All Journal Humanika : Kajian Ilmiah Mata Kuliah Umum Indonesian Journal of Religion, Spirituality, and Humanity
Armstrong Chanda
University of Zambia
Religion Arts Humanities Social Sciences

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The persistence of indigenous mystical cosmology among Bemba Catholics in Mpika, Zambia Armstrong Chanda
IJORESH Indonesian Journal of Religion Spirituality and Humanity Vol. 5 No. 1 (2026): Indonesian Journal of Religion, Spirituality, and Humanity
Publisher : Postgraduate Program of State Islamic University (UIN) Salatiga Jl. Lingkar Salatiga Km. 02 Salatiga, Indonesia https://pps.uinsalatiga.ac.id/

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.18326/ijoresh.v5i1.28-54

Abstract

In the contemporary Mpika District of Zambia, Bemba Catholics have continued to maintain their belief in and practice of the mystical powers of the indigenous Bemba cosmology and spirituality. This is despite a century of evangelisation and condemnation of the mystical beliefs and practices. To understand the enduring nature of this belief and the reasons for its endurance, a descriptive case study was employed within a qualitative research approach. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data, and thematic framework analysis was utilised to analyse the data. Lay Bemba Catholics, Catholic clergy, and community headmen were studied. A homogeneous purposive sampling method was applied to select 34 participants. Bemba Catholics integrate traditional beliefs and practices into their Catholic lives, shaped by their native cosmological worldview. This merging of cultural values influences their religious practices and identity, highlighting the intersection of socio-religious and cultural factors behind the persistence of this belief. The pervasive fear and anxiety associated with mystical reality also contribute to their belief in supernatural powers. The study contributes to the appreciation of the relevance of indigenous belief and practice in modern Christians’ experience and to awareness of cultural sensitivity in dialogue with indigenous African belief and practice. The study recommends that the Church engage with knowledgeable indigenous people in African beliefs and practices to appreciate and enhance the coexistence of indigenous beliefs in supernatural powers and the Catholic faith.
Negotiating the dual religiosity of African Indigenous Religion and Christianity among Bemba Catholics Armstrong Chanda; Austin Mumba Cheyeka; Tomaida L. C Milingo
Humanika: Kajian Ilmiah Mata Kuliah Umum Vol. 26 No. 1 (2026): Humanika: Kajian Ilmiah Mata Kuliah Umum
Publisher : Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.21831/hum.v26i1.95988

Abstract

The practice of dual religiosity of Christianity and Indigenous African Religion (AIR), among Bemba Catholics in the Muchinga Province of Zambia, is a lived reality. Bemba Catholics exist in a region where two different worldviews exist, which leads them to practise their faith through a combination of different beliefs and practices while encountering difficulties when their Christian faith faces challenges from their indigenous practices and cultural traditions. Therefore, the study examines how this dual religiosity is negotiated. The study used a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to study 20 Bemba Catholics who formed the sample size from Chilonga and Ilondola. Bemba Catholics blend AIR elements with Catholicism through integration, syncretism, adaptation, contextualisation and juxtapositioning. They create new rituals that combine both traditions, selectively adopting AIR beliefs, interpreting them through a Christian lens, and maintaining their Christian identity. They establish their Catholic identity by practicing Catholicism through their traditional African rituals. Some maintain clear boundaries, whereas others embrace hybridity. These strategies show that religious negotiation has changed throughout history, while participating in dual religiosity and cultural identity, and maintaining indigenous beliefs under Christian influence results in insufficient support by religious organisations and limits interfaith dialogue opportunities.
Co-Authors Austin Mumba Cheyeka Tomaida L. C Milingo