Plurality of religion, plurality of justice African Studies Centre African Studies Collection, vol. 28 Plurality of religion, plurality of justice Exploring the role of religion in disputing processes in Gorongosa, Central Mozambique Carolien Jacobs African Studies Centre P.O. Box 9555 2300 RB Leiden The Netherlands
[email protected] http://www.ascleiden.nl Cover design: Heike Slingerland Photographs: Carolien Jacobs Printed by Ipskamp Drukkers, Enschede ISSN: 1876-018X ISBN: 978-90-5448-099-0 © Carolien Jacobs, 2010 Contents List of tables and figures vii Acknowledgements viii 1. INTRODUCTION: RELIGION AND DISPUTING 1 Central question 2 The concept of religion 4 Approaching religion in the field 9 The context of legal pluralism 14 Disputing 16 Religion in the disputing process 19 Introduction to the field of Mozambique 23 Structure of the book 31 2. A HISTORY OF MOZAMBIQUE, A HISTORY OF GORONGOSA 34 Early history 34 Intensifying colonisation 40 Defending a colony 44 Independence and civil war 55 Post-war reconstruction 63 3. IN SEARCH OF SPIRITUAL SECURITY IN A CHANGING WORLD 70 Changing society, changing beliefs 73 Converting or entangling? 88 Conclusion 94 4. NAVIGATING THROUGH A LANDSCAPE OF POWERS OR GETTING LOST ON MOUNT GORONGOSA 97 Mount Gorongosa: Locating a landscape of powers 100 Conclusion: Getting lost or finding the way? 117 5. CONFLICT MEDIATION BY SPIRIT MEDIUMS AND PASTORS 120 Dispute management by spirit mediums 121 Christian-oriented dispute management 146 Conclusion 155 v 6. SPIRITS AT THE POLICE STATION AND THE DISTRICT COURT 159 The Gorongosa district police station 161 Spirits at the district court 173 Conclusion 180 7.