Browsing by Author "Zulu, Edwin"

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    Interpreting the Exodus among the Ngoni people
    (Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Theology, 2011) Zulu, Edwin
    The interpretation of the Ngoni of Exodus 14:21-31 makes a comparison with the Israelites possible. Both the Israelites and the Ngoni crossed an expanse of water to reach their new land; The Israelites crossed the Red Sea and the Ngoni crossed the Zambezi River. Moreover, just as God provided the Israelites passage by facilitating the crossing of the Red Sea on dry land in a miraculous way, the Ngoni were aided by the locals, the Chikunda people, by carrying them in their canoes to cross the river. The Egyptians perished in the sea; the Ngoni killed the Chikunda after being aided by them. The role of the King is also mentioned; in the biblical story Moses plays a significant role as the agent of God. In a similar manner, King Zwangendaba's role is highlighted in the entire episode. These narratives of origin and migration (both Biblical and Ngoni) are important for the formation of identity amongst the Ngoni in Zambia.
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    An Ngoni assessment of the role of ancestors within ancient Israelite world views and religion in Genesis 11:28-50:26
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1998-12) Zulu, Edwin; Bosman, Hendrik; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Department of Old and New Testament.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The dissertation attempts to make an assessment of the role of ancestors within Israelite world views and religion from a Ngoni perspective. This is done by interpreting the patriarchal narratives (Gen. 11 :28-50:26) in light of these world views. When these narratives are interpreted using the socio-rhetorical analysis of Vernon Robbins, it becomes clear that ancestors play a more significant role than Old Testament scholarship often suggests. These roles are multidimensional as seen in the narratives themselves. Chapter one introduces the topic, the problem (what is the role of ancestors in ancient Israel world views), hypothesis (the function and role of ancestors in religion and society formed part of the whole complex of world views operating among the ancient Israelites) and method (comparative study and socio-rhetorical analysis) employed in this research. Some important working concepts are explained and a short review of works related to ancestors is made. The second chapter surveys the African world views, the view of death, a view of ancestors and their multidimensional role. The issue of kinship and religion is also discussed. This discussion is done with a specific reference to the Ngoni of Zambia. The third chapter examines the Israelite world views and religion to see to what extent world view influenced their everyday life, more especially concerning their understanding of ancestors. The issue of Israelite conceptions of death is discussed, as well as kinship and religion. In these communities ancestors is part of their complex world views. The fourth chapter, drawing on the conclusions of chapter 1-3, analyses texts from the patriarchal narratives. The texts are discussed as examples of varied world views on the role of ancestors in the patriarchal narratives of the Old Testament The final chapter sums up the conclusions reached in these findings. These conclusions are threefold. First, ancestors in the patriarchal narratives of the Old Testament were understood in a much more intricate way than is often highlighted by the Old Testament scholarship. Ancestors formed part of concurrent complex Israelite world views. This implies that there is no single world view on ancestors in the patriarchal narratives of Old Testament. This provides us with a perspective from which to undertake a theological assessment of ancestors in these narratives. Second, the roles of ancestors are multidimensional. These roles define kinship relationships and structures and bind them together in an intricate way. Therefore, the ancestors define boundaries in which every individual has to be identified in the patriarchal narratives of the Old Testament and the Ngoni. Third, it redefines the understanding of ancestors in an African (Ngoni) context by providing an Old Testament theological perspective in which we view and interpret the roles of ancestors in a specific context. Ancestors are more significant in African religious communities than suggested by the Western scholars. Indeed, ancestors are pillars of these African communities that are mostly based on kinship relationships that the ancestors represent and shape. Finally, this approach has shown that a world view of particular people could be applied in the interpretation of the role of ancestors in the patriarchal narratives of the Old Testament.
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    Reverence for ancestors in Africa : interpretation of the 5th Commandment from an African perspective
    (Department of Old and New Testament, Stellenbosch University, 2002) Zulu, Edwin
    The thesis of this article is that, moral instruction is related to popular wisdom. It is consequently believed that moral instruction serves various functions in an African community, to order the community, to direct the community relationships, to propagate community, tribe, clan, family ideals and bind the community tribe, clan, and family together. It is in this light that the fifth commandment is analysed and interpreted.
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    World view as a theological-hermeneutical premise in the interpretation of the Old Testament with particular reference to the Reformed Church in Zambia
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1996-02) Zulu, Edwin; Bosman, Hendrik; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Department of Old and New Testament.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Old Testament is a familiar document among many Africans. This is clearly evident in the so-called "younger Churches", Churches born out of the Dutch Reformed Church Mission (D.R.C.M) and African Independent Churches, though its interpretation and application in daily life is still ambiguous despite many attempts at interpretation by many African theologians to make its message clear. This is due to the many different world views the Old Testament encounters in Africa and the variety of cultural contexts within Africa, despite some common ground. Therefore, there is need for a new premise and reading strategy whereby the specialised reader, ordinary reader and informed reader are of equal importance to facilitate a constant dialogue so that the real life situation is not overridden by the Bible and the real life situation does not override the biblical message. Furthermore, contextualised world views need to be taken as premise. This is so because to start within a world view broadens one's understanding. Analysing the Israelite world view with reference to the interpretation of (Exodus 20: 3 and Deuteronomy 5: 7) indicates some similarities that we can use to interpret within a specific cultural context despite some contextual differences. These are belief in God as Creator and Originator of all things. Consequently there is harmony and order of society, principles of living, cosmology, whereby God's prominence is upheld and God alone is worshipped (in public at least).