This article studies the rituals and ceremonies that are practised by Tsonga widows at a village in Giyani in Limpopo. The research is based on the observation of the exclusion of widows from church attendance and activities in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in South Africa (EPCSA). The study was conducted among Tsonga-speaking widows in the Tsonga community. The exclusion of widows is respected and understood by members of the church because they believe in respecting people’s cultural and traditional beliefs. This article attempts to study the conflict between Christianity and Tsonga mourning rituals and practices in the EPCSA. This is a qualitative study; however, literature is also included. Mourning rituals are presented and analysed to attempt to find ways in which practical theology can help the Tsonga widows in the EPCSA through liturgical inculturation as they undertake the mourning period. The authors recommend that a study on the effectiveness of mourning rituals for Tsonga widows would be fruitful for the EPCSA.
Burial rites are very common among many Africa communities. In the African context, burials are not the end of life but rather the beginning of another life in the land of the ancestors. In spite of the importance of the African funeral rites, the missional role of the church in mourning and the burial of the dead in the African communities, the COVID-19 pandemic led protocols and restrictions placed a huge challenge on the African religious and cultural practices.Contribution: In the light of the above-named challenges, the article discusses the religious-cultural effect of the pandemic with special focus on the African liturgical and missiological challenges in the context of the COVID-19 restrictions on funerals and burial rites.
This study on Tsonga widows' mourning rituals was done in a village in Giyani, Limpopo. The research was based on the observation of the exclusion of widows from church attendance and activities in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in South Africa (EPCSA). The study was conducted among Tsongaspeaking widows in the Tsonga community. The exclusion of widows is respected and understood by members of the church, because they believe in respecting people's cultural and traditional beliefs.The study attempted to examine the conflict between Christianity and Tsonga mourning rituals and practices in the EPCSA. This was a qualitative study; however, a literature review was also included.Mourning rituals were presented and analyzed in an to attempt to find ways in which practical theology can help the Tsonga widows in the EPCSA through liturgical inculturation as they undergo the mourning period. The study consisted of data on mourning rituals collected from six individual widows and a focus group consisting of seven widows. The collected data was analyzed and interpreted to study the conflict between cultural practices regarding death and mourning and Christianity in the EPCSA. According to Tsonga cultural tradition, the rituals designed for Tsonga widows are not meant to harm widows or women but rather to protect them. Mourning ritual practices are common in most African cultures. These widowhood practices vary widely in different countries and among different tribes.Currently, there is a liturgical hiatus concerning rituals of mourning for widows in the EPCSA in Tsonga culture: that is, the EPCSA has not yet produced any guidelines on how these rituals interact with EPCSA liturgical practices. It is believed that most widows who partake in such rituals are compelled to earn the respect of their in-laws and the community and to be accepted by the ancestors of the family. Differing views among scholars continue to contribute to the conflict between Christianity and African ritual practices. MethodologyThe research methodology involved both a study of literature and qualitative empirical work in the form of interviews of individuals and a focus group comprised of Tsonga widows. This qualitative re- *The thesis was accepted by the
Women empowerment is growing in South African communities and workplaces. More women are in executive positions which often require time away from home with the implication that their conversations with family and relatives are limited. As time change, the role of men changes in the family context especially in Africa. Gone are the days when women were told that they belong in the kitchen. More women step forward in the corporate world by taking up key leadership roles. The purpose of the Employment Equity Act (EEA) is to protect employees from unfair treatment. However, the implementation of affirmative action aims at measuring whether the challenges faced by the previously disadvantaged groups, and factors such as age, gender, ethnicity and disability regarding basic employment conditions are still questionable. Some women earn more than their husbands, compared to the past when men were the breadwinners of the household, particularly in black communities. In this article is discussed the factors contributing to black men’s gender role changing in the household from a theological and psychological perspective.Contribution: The contextual perspective of this research is contributed by the African men’s concern regarding cultural beliefs and practices relating to gender role changes in households. The contribution of this article is to inform people about factors, which African men experience in gender role changes in households from both a theological and psychological perspective. This research is done using a literature review; thus, a multi-disciplinary approach, which seeks to provide knowledge and encourage African black men to embrace gender transformation roles in households.
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