Religion in a Tswana Chiefdom by B. A. Pauw

Author:B. A. Pauw [Pauw, B. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Social Science, Ethnic Studies, African Studies, Anthropology, General
ISBN: 9780429944543
Google: IxBqDwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2018-09-03T03:40:27+00:00

The Leader of this church, H—— G——, is of Hlubi (Nguni) descent. Both his father and mother were born in Taung, but his grandfather came from the south-east to settle in Taung. He is young, tall, and thin, with large eyes, a slightly nervous type, but not extremely so. When all are settled in the little room for the service, he says a few words and announces a hymn. A drum beats out the rhythm of the hymn which is sung with enthusiasm. The women on the one side of the room stand still, only clapping hands, but the men make steps and contort their bodies. Some of them sing with eyes closed, another sways back and forth in a stooping attitude, while his face is strained, with eyes wide open, like a person who is afraid. Another inclines his head to one side with both hands to his cheek. Occasionally one gives a loud and wild shout, or another blows hard. These actions and attitudes recur throughout the service. The whole procedure is reminiscent of some Bantu dances in which the men perform the movements and the women form a chorus to provide the accompaniment.2

Presently the tempo of the singing increases, and a few start walking in a circle in the middle of the floor. The room is no more than twelve feet square but so far there are only about twelve persons in the room so that one can still easily move about! The tempo of the hymn increases still further and those in the circle almost break into a trot. One man’s knees suddenly give way under him and he nearly falls, shouting wildly. On a sign from the Leader the roundabout stops and all kneel, completing the verse they are singing. Then all break out in loud prayer, causing a terrific din.3

The service proceeds more or less according to the general Pentecostal pattern already described. An unusual feature is the reading of the Ten Commandments. H—— reads a few verses in Xhosa, and after all have joined in singing a series of ‘Amens’, he reads a few verses in Tswana. So the reading continues, interrupted by the ‘Amen’ song several times.

Besides the leader, four other men deliver sermons, punctuated by the customary interruptions. One of these is caused by the arrival of a group of about ten church members, who are heard outside as they approach singing and beating a drum. (My enquiry later on reveals that these people have been to the river ‘to wash off the sehihi of death’. Cf. ch. VI, pp. 191, 194.) The last preacher, with his luxuriant beard—the men abstain from shaving their beards in this church—and longish hair, and with his flowing robes and staff looks as though he has just stepped out of an old-fashioned Bible picture. He speaks with prophet-like fervour, but is soon stopped by a man (X) who starts telling something in a soft but urgent voice. Another man (Y) to whom he has pointed, also rises and speaks quickly but quietly.

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