DOCSLIB.ORG

The Excavation at Kwale Island, South of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Excavation at Kwale Island, South of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania NYAME AKUMA No. 48 December 1997 TANZANIA and the authors are aware of its use for three settle- ments. The first one, well known to EIW period The Excavation at Kwale Island, south archaeologists, is south of Mombasa (Soper 1967). of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania This site was the first of its type on the East African coast and became a variant name for the coastal EIW Felix Chami ceramic tradition. Another Kwale is found on the Archaeology Unit western part of the Tanga Bay, a Tanzanian port south University of Dar es Salaam of Mombasa. Today the settlement is suburban, with typical Swahili culture. A few hours survey at the PO. Box 35050 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania site indicates that its peak of occupation was in the 19th century when a defensive wall and an impres- sive mosque was built. These are now in ruins. Paul J. Msemwa Village Museum The Kwale of our concern here is the island Dar es Salaam, Tanzania which is four km offshore from the port of Kisiju, about 100 km south of Dar es Salaam. Longest in the east-west direction, the island measures 1 x 4 km. It is entirely covered by coral stone with a very Introduction thin layer of soil cover not deep enough for sub- The excavation of the archaeological site on stantial cultivation. The estimated population of the the Kwale Island took place between January and island is 2000, and it is questionable whether it has February 1995. Kwale Island is located at latitude ever grown larger than this. As the water on the 7'24's and longitude 39O23'E. The excavation re- island is hard, fresh water for cooking and drinking ported in this paper was preceded by a survey con- is brought from Kjsiju by boats. ducted by the Field School of the University of Dar Virtually no wild animals are found on this es Salaam between June and July 1994 (Chami and island. Ethnographic enquiries conducted at the time Kessy 1995). The survey, aimed at the archaeo- of our excavation revealed that pythons are occa- logical reconnaissance of the Kisiju area, identi- sionally encountered. In the past islanders used to fied several sites ranging from the Later Stone Age capture and bring them to the center of the settle- (LSA) to recent. Kwale Island was found to have ment for amusement. Regrettably, for quite some- cultural material remains ranging from the EIW time now no single python had been seen by the period to modem times. local inhabitants. In the past domesticated animals The identification and the excavation of the included chicken, goats and cattle. But during our site has made a viable contribution to ongoing re- excavation only goats and chicken were seen. search on human contributions to environmental The pressure on land on Kwale island is sub- change. As part of such a project, the authors have stantiated by the shifting of fences separating been surveying the large part of the central coast of cropland from pasture land. The tree fence has been Tanzania looking for variety of sites which would moved in order to increase cropland, and over the help in the understanding of the process of human years land for free grazing has been reduced. Crop adaptation to coastal environments. Having a vari- land is further east of the village whereas land for ety of sites and data, it may be possible to produce grazing is closer to the settlement. In Kwale agri- a holistic picture of adaptational processes from the culture is mainly the work of women whereas fish- stone age to the present. In this way, it is thought, ing is done by men. Women cultivate sorghum, lime even the external factors influencing settlements and mangoes. As has been found elsewhere could be put into proper perspective. (Msemwa 1994), other activities of women include the collection of shellfish for food. Description of Kwale Island Natural resources found on the island are wild fruits and nuts such as baobab and a variety of plums. The name Kwale seems to be common on Although the latter resources occur in small quan- the coast of East Africa. It appears at several places tities they are important for the health of the NYAME AKUMA No, 48 December 1997 islanders. The abundance of fish together with the dition were found at the center of the occupied area, island's proximity to the mainland could have been indicating that EIW people could have occupied an the main attractions for human colonization. Fish- areas as large as the one occupied today. ing is still the major activity; its products are ex- Since other later cultural materials were found changed on the Kisiju port for other subsistence concentrated at this area of EIW tradition, our ex- requirements. cavation effort was directed to this area. It was hoped The area of the present day occupation seem that a complete chronology of the site could be not very different from that of the ancient times. found. Only three small size excavation trenches, The occupants of the 14th to the 15th centuries, one of 1 x 2 m, and two of 1 m2 were excavated at however, seem to have been more prosperous, their this site. The purpose of this test excavation was to island having been used as a kind of trading center. learn what range of material found in situ and hence The remains of a mosque, tombs and imported prod- establish chronological sequence of the site, as it is ucts scattered all over the area indicate better liv- possible that it has perhaps two thousand years of ing conditions than of today's abject poverty. continuous occupation. The first trench was placed under a baobab tree near the main street towards the The choice of surveying the island in 1994 town center. The tree caused the house builders to was precipitated by the fact that it is just four km leave a large space untouched around the tree, which from the mainland. One can see it clearly while is used for recreation during the day. The 1 x 2 m standing at the mainland shoreline. The assump- trench was longer in the south-north direction. The tion was that if EIW people had reached the Kisiju surface of the area is generally flat. The second shore, and they had means of sailing they would trench was put near the old beach pottery scatter on certainly have ventured to visit or settle on the is- an area which has been used as a dump from the land. Due to the sandy and coraline nature of the first millennium. The third was at an open area near island it is obvious that the cultural material that a slope towards the old beach (Figure 2). could have been left behind would easily be seen. The survey identified cultural materials ranging The excavation of trench one proceeded by from the EIW period to modem times. From the 10 cm arbitrary spits (Figure 3). Level 1 had very survey finds it was obvious that Kwale site could hard compact soil near the surface. A tip of a hoe be the first site on the coast of East Africa to offer a was used to break the surface. The soil was sandy complete picture of the coastal sequence from the clay with brownish colour. The material collected early centuries AD to today. Hence the importance from this layer is recent, comprising goat droppings, of the excavation. bones, shell, coral stones, sherds, nails, daub and a coin. The excavation Level 2 and 3 yielded materials typical of post 15th century AD. The materials were more concen- 'The survey established that only eight hec- trated at the 3rd level. They include sherds, shells, tares of the western tip of the island has been occu- bones, beads and gum arabic. The cultural indica- pied since the beginning of the first part of first tor for post 15th century is coastal pottery deco- millennium AD. This is the area subjected to ar- rated with neatly executed band of impressions, ex- chaeological work which lasted two and a half ecuted either by a fine twisted rope roulette (Soper weeks. Before the actual excavation, a site survey 1985:36). or by a repeated stamping of a comb-like was conducted to establish how material was dis- objecr with four or five points. Occasionally the tributed over the site. It was seen that since the same pronged object would, at a point slightly be- 14th century AD the extreme eastern point, about low the stamped impressions, be dragged either in a three hectares, was earmarked for burial, mosque waiving or zigzagging fashion to create a continu- and a port (Figure 2). The further inland area is the ous band of five or four parallel lines (Figure 5c, one with the present settlement. The EIW remains also see Schmidt et al. 1992:35). This rarely were found concentrated more on the northern part undescribed pottery tradition is found in many sites of the occupied area, at a point where it is easy to north of the Rufiji to the Pangani rivers associated observe the mainland. Few sherds of the EIW tra- with Chinese and European ceramics. NYAME AKUMA No, 48 December 1997 Figure 1: The 1994 field school surveyed area (see Kwale Island on the right hand side of the map), after Chami and Kessey 1995. NYAME AKUMA No, 48 December 1997 Figure 2: Kwale site map. NVAME AKUMA No. 48 December 1997 Level 4 and 5 seem to offer materials identi- Trench 2 was of 1 m2 excavated at a further fied here as Swahili (13th-15th centuries AD).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Pdf/Cahier Chauvet.Pdf Chirchir-Chuma, Kipketter, 1975, « Aspects of Nandi Society and Culture in the Nineteenth Century », Kenya Historical Review 3 (1): 85–95
    Les Cahiers d’Afrique de l’Est / The East African Review 52 | 2019 La diffusion des plantes américaines dans la région des Grands Lacs Croissance démographique, paysage politique et diversification culturale dans la région des Grands Lacs La variable démographique, indicateur et témoin de la diffusion des plantes américaines, entre histoires centrale et périphériques Population growth and densities, socio-political landscapes and crop diversification in the Great Lakes Region: the demographic variable, indicator and witness of American plants dissemination, peripheral and central histories Christian Thibon Édition électronique URL : http://journals.openedition.org/eastafrica/478 Éditeur IFRA - Institut Français de Recherche en Afrique Édition imprimée Date de publication : 1 mars 2019 Pagination : 151-240 ISSN : 2071-7245 Référence électronique Christian Thibon, « Croissance démographique, paysage politique et diversification culturale dans la région des Grands Lacs », Les Cahiers d’Afrique de l’Est / The East African Review [En ligne], 52 | 2019, mis en ligne le 07 mai 2019, consulté le 25 septembre 2020. URL : http://journals.openedition.org/ eastafrica/478 Les Cahiers d’Afrique de l’Est / The East African Review Croissance démographique, paysage politique et diversification culturale dans la région des Grands Lacs La variable démographique, indicateur et témoin de la diffusion des plantes américaines, entre histoires centrale et périphériques Christian Thibon Cette étude découle d’une hypothèse-évidence, sinon d’un postulat, tant l’hypothèse apparaissait ancrée, selon laquelle l’évolution historique de la région des Grands Lacs relèverait d’une convergence réussie entre espace (écologie), économie-population et construction politique, et ce faisant en arrière-plan d’une connexion, du xvie au xixe siècle, entre les plantes américaines qui amènent un surplus, une croissance, un surnombre démographique et des imaginaires politiques.
    [Show full text]
  • Conserving Wildlife in African Landscapes Kenya’S Ewaso Ecosystem
    Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press smithsonian contributions to zoology • number 632 Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press AConserving Chronology Wildlife of Middlein African Missouri Landscapes Plains Kenya’sVillage Ewaso SitesEcosystem Edited by NicholasBy Craig J. M. Georgiadis Johnson with contributions by Stanley A. Ahler, Herbert Haas, and Georges Bonani SERIES PUBLICATIONS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Emphasis upon publication as a means of “diffusing knowledge” was expressed by the first Secretary of the Smithsonian. In his formal plan for the Institution, Joseph Henry outlined a program that included the following statement: “It is proposed to publish a series of reports, giving an account of the new discoveries in science, and of the changes made from year to year in all branches of knowledge.” This theme of basic research has been adhered to through the years by thousands of titles issued in series publications under the Smithsonian imprint, com- mencing with Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge in 1848 and continuing with the following active series: Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology Smithsonian Contributions to Botany Smithsonian Contributions to History and Technology Smithsonian Contributions to the Marine Sciences Smithsonian Contributions to Museum Conservation Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology In these series, the Institution publishes small papers and full-scale monographs that report on the research and collections of its various museums and bureaus. The Smithsonian Contributions Series are distributed via mailing lists to libraries, universities, and similar institu- tions throughout the world. Manuscripts submitted for series publication are received by the Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press from authors with direct affilia- tion with the various Smithsonian museums or bureaus and are subject to peer review and review for compliance with manuscript preparation guidelines.
    [Show full text]
  • Notes on the Ground and Polished Stone Axes of East Africa
    NOTES ON THE GROUND AND POLISHED STONE AXES OF EAST AFRICA. By MARY D. LEAKEY. During the last thirty years, a number of polished stone. axes have been discovered in East Africa. The majority of these have been chance finds made by farmers in the course of plough• ing or other agricultural activities, with the result that little reliable evidence has been recorded concerning associated mate• rial or stratigraphy. In spite of this regrettable lack of data, the five types of axe represented among the 22 complete specimens known to exist appear to be sufficiently interesting and their occurrence in Kenya and Tanganyika, of sufficient importance to merit a short description. Since the term "neolithic" is frequently applied to ground and polished stone implements and since it is permissible to assume for the present that the East African axes belong to this cultural phase, it may not be out of place to summarise the bases on which the term is applied in the area under review. It seems that for the greater part of Africa, excluding the Egyptian field, the characteristics of the neolithic stage in cultural development are generally recognised as being somewhat different to those understood for Europe. There, the combination of agriculture, the domestication of stock, pottery and the grinding and polishing of stone implements are usually considered essential criteria and are frequently found together in the same context. In East Africa, on the other hand, where our knowledge is still extremely scanty, although two or more of the above features may be present, all four have not hitherto been discovered in association.
    [Show full text]
  • A Political History of Kenya
    A POLITICAL HISTORY OF KENYA Dr John Mwaruvie History, Political Science and Pubic Administration Moi University P.O. Box 3900 Eldoret Kenya [email protected] Mobile- 0727 695 793 INTRODUCTION Kenya is a country of diversity just like USA. It has varied cultures and traditions. Kenya has 42 ethnic groups, Plus migrant races, whites, Asians and Arabs but have lived peacefully except last year (2008) when post election violence erupted due to flawed election. Like US, Kenya was a colony of Great Britain from where we have borrowed various elements of governance based on British Commonwealth traditions. For instance, our legal system, and parliamentary traditions and executive draws heavily from the British system. Like US, Kenya has three arms of government namely the Executive, Legislature (parliament) and judiciary. These three arms of government are expected to operate independently for the welfare of the citizens. Where is Kenya in the world? Cont…. • The Kenyan coastal region has had a long association with people from Middle East, India, China, which led to evolution of oriental culture. • Islam is well entrenched at the coastal region while most of interior prescribes to Christian faith. This Islamic influence is due to many years of colonization of the coastline by the Arabs. • However, religious violence experienced in other parts of the world where Islam and Christianity come into competition has not been experienced in Kenya. Cont… • Kenya like US came into direct contact with Europe in the 15th Century, when the Portuguese explorers led by Vasco da Gama explored the region in 1798 and subsequently colonized The East African coastline for two hundred years.
    [Show full text]
  • University of Cape Town
    The copyright of this thesis vests in the author. No quotation from it or information derived from it is to be published without full acknowledgementTown of the source. The thesis is to be used for private study or non- commercial research purposes only. Cape Published by the University ofof Cape Town (UCT) in terms of the non-exclusive license granted to UCT by the author. University Politics, Ethnicity and Jostling for Power: The Evolution ofInstitutions of Muslim Leadersnip and Kednisnip in Colonial Kenya, 1895-19G3 Town Cape of University Thesis S1JbmitfeD in fulfilment oftOe requirements lor toe Degree ofDoctor ofPoilosopoy Department ofNeHgious StuDies UniYllrsily ofCape Town December 2003 Acknowledgements The journeys towards completion of this work have made me to incur debts of gratitude to many people and institutions who have generously given me financial assistance in the form offellowships, from others I gained inspiration, moral support and constructive criticism towards improving this study. It is my greatest pleasure to have been associated with and acknowledge them. lowe a monumental debt of gratitude to my thesis advisors, Prof. Abdulkader Tayob and Prof. Muhammad Bakari whom I have grown to respect over the years for according me the benefit of their knowledge and wise counsel as well as offering steady guidance while allowing me the freedom to pursue my own intellectual development. I appreciate their encouragement and mentoring. I have also had the opportunity to share my thoughts on some aspects of this work in various forums. I would particularly like to thank Prof. John Hunwick and Sean O'Fahey who accorded me the opportunity to spend spring 2002, as a fellow of the Institute of Islamic Thought in Africa (IS ITA) at Northwestern University.
    [Show full text]
  • Governance and Development of the East African Community: the Ethical Sustainability Framework
    Governance and Development of the East African Community: The Ethical Sustainability Framework Dickson Kanakulya Faculty of Arts and Sciences Studies in Applied Ethics 16 Linköping University, Department of Culture and Communication Linköping 2015 Studies in Applied Ethics 16 Distributed by: Department of Culture and Communication Linköping University 581 83 Linköping Sweden Dickson Kanakulya Governance and Development of the East African Community: The Ethical Sustainability Framework Licentiate thesis Edition 1:1 ISSN 1402‐4152:16 ISBN 978‐91‐7685‐894‐3 © The author Department of Culture and Communication 2015 Declaration: I declare that this study is my original work and a product of my personal critical research and thought. …………………………………………….. Kanakulya Dickson, Kampala, Uganda November, 2015 ii Approval: This research report has been submitted with the approval of my supervisor: Prof. Goran Collste --2015--11--09----- Co-Supervisor’s name: Signature: Date iii © 2015 Kanakulya Dickson All rights reserved iv Dedication: This work is dedicated to the Lord of all Spirits and Letters; accept it as a feeble effort to serve your eternal purposes.To Caroline Kanakulya, a beautiful and kindred spirit. To the healing of the spirit of East Africans.To the watchers who stood steadfast in the days of the multiplication. Great mysteries await across! v Acknowledgements: I acknowledge the Swedish Agency for International Development (Sida) and Makerere University for funding this research; and the staff of Makerere Directorate of Graduate Research and Training for support during the study. My deepest gratitude goes to my wife Caroline Kanakulya, my travel companion in life’s journey; thanks for standing my flaws and supporting me.
    [Show full text]
  • 211 SECTION II PROVINCIAL and DISTRICT RECORD BOOKS The
    211 SECTION II PROVINCIAL AND DISTRICT RECORD BOOKS The sixteen reels of Political Record Books (PRB) contain materials that were origi­ nally intended to be a continually expanding collection of data and source of information for use by colonial officials. As such, subjects found in these records range from character evaluations of headml,n, comments on various tribes, oral tradition, and lengthy analyses of tribal law and customs, to land and boundary issues, education policy, and statistics. News­ paper and magazine clippings, correspondence, and departmental and administrative reports are included. Political Record Books, in short, contain such information considered by officials as of sufficil:nt importance to meet the needs of their successors in terms both of historical background and current administrative problems. District and provincial offi­ cers regularly updated these records, and although on occasion certain record books under­ went major reorganization, the arrangement of the records vary considerably from one record to another and in fact often leave a great deal to be desired in terms of organization. Headings found in the record books, e. g., are not always indicative of the material found therein. The bulk of the materials were compiled before World War II. Entries are arranged in the following manner: citations on the Kenya National Archives inserts appear as elsewhere in capitals. Due to space limitations and to updating or absence of date and author, subjects within a particular record book have been grouped into a lengthy annotation under the insert label. Reports that are clearly separate documents within a record book receive Beparate citations, as does correspondence that lends itself to grouping, either by subject or correspondents (see p.
    [Show full text]
  • Form One History Notes
    [email protected] HISTORY FORM 1 NOTES Page | 1 FOR: Form 2, 3 & 4 NOTES, latest & Updated Schemes of Work, Quality Revision Booklets, Entry, Mid-Term& End-Term Exams, All KASNEB notes, Set-Books Acted Videos……. WhatsApp Sir Obiero Amos @ 0706 851 439 [email protected] HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT FORM ONE NOTES ([email protected]) By Sir Obiero Amos 0706 851 439 INTRODUCTION TO HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT THE MEANING OF HISTORY History is an account of events that took place in the past. History may also be defined as a branch of knowledge which deals with past events of human beings and their response to their environment over the years.R.G Collingwood, in his book The Idea of History (OUP 1994) defined history as a “science concerned with the human actions in the past, pursued by interpretation of evidence for the sake of Human self knowledge.” That history is a science because it involves finding out things about the past Humankind. For example, the origin of Man, why he was a toolmaker, why he domesticated animals and plants. These are questions that provoke scientific curiosity. The three definitions of History from the above are: History is the past of anything; of earth, man, disease or animals History is a branch of knowledge dealing with past events History is a science concerned with past Human actions Since History at secondary level is specifically concerned with the past as it relates to humankind and his response to his environment over the years, the working definition of history is therefore; History is the endless story of mankind’s actions and events affecting him in the past.
    [Show full text]
  • MOMBASA Gateway to Africa David Kilcullen
    FUTURE OF AFRICAN CITIES PROJECT DISCUSSION PAPER 07/2019 MOMBASA Gateway to Africa David Kilcullen Strengthening Africa’s economic performance MOMBASA Gateway to Africa Contents Executive Summary .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Introduction .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Gateway to Africa .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 A History of Connection and Exploitation .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Coast Versus Hinterland .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 Conflict on the Coast .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 Upgrading the Urban Fabric .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11 Hardware Versus Software .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 Geopolitics on Rails .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 17 Gateway to the Future? .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 Conclusion .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 About the Author Dr David Kilcullen is a Professor in the School of Published in September 2019 by The Brenthurst Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of New Foundation South Wales in Canberra, Australia, is CEO of the research The Brenthurst Foundation firm Cordillera Applications Group, and has been an (Pty) Limited associate of the Brenthurst Foundation since
    [Show full text]
  • To Access the Full Contents of This Issue
    NYAME AKUMA No. 3 1 EDITORIAL This will be the last number produced under my editorship. I have decided, after producing ten numbers since 1982, that it is time for someone else to take over. I am pleased to announce that Dr. John R.F. Bower of Iowa State University has agreed to assume the editorship effective immediately, and will thus be responsible for Number 32. Dr. Bower has a long record of involvement in African archaeology and was also a professional editor at Rand McNally for five years. He thus brings to Nvame Akuma the required expertise to continue what Peter and Ama Shinnie began. Bower will have far greater institutional support than was available to me and we both hope that this will make it possible for Nvame Akuma to become a more regular arrival in your mail than has been the case of late. I wish to thank those who have helped me keep Nyame Akuma going over the past eight years. First, and foremost. my thanks go to the conmbutors who have seen this newsletter as the appropriate place in which to publish their reports despite its status as a non-refereed publication. Without their commitment, Nyame Akuma could not exist. Dr. Pamela Willoughby has, since 1985. helped in the daily chores of looking after subscriptions and in other unglamourous tasks. Dr. Mary Jackes has helped in innumerable ways. The staff of the University of Alberta Printing Services, (Bernie Cordell. Bernadette Quenneville, Earl Olsen, Ed Annaka, Linda Ludlow. Douglas Martin and others) have gone far beyond the call of duty to help produce Nvame Akuma and to educate me in the inmcacies of computer-aided publication.
    [Show full text]
  • La Diffusion Des Plantes Américaines Dans La Région Des Grands Lacs
    Les Cahiers d’Afrique de l’Est / The East African Review 52 | 2019 La diffusion des plantes américaines dans la région des Grands Lacs Approches générale et sous-régionale, l’Ouest kényan Dissemination of the American Plants in the Great Lakes Region: General and Sub-Regional Approaches, the Western Kenya Elizabeth Vignati et Christian Thibon (dir.) Édition électronique URL : http://journals.openedition.org/eastafrica/452 Éditeur IFRA - Institut Français de Recherche en Afrique Édition imprimée Date de publication : 1 mars 2019 ISSN : 2071-7245 Référence électronique Elizabeth Vignati et Christian Thibon (dir.), Les Cahiers d’Afrique de l’Est / The East African Review, 52 | 2019, « La diffusion des plantes américaines dans la région des Grands Lacs » [En ligne], mis en ligne le 07 mai 2019, consulté le 25 septembre 2020. URL : http://journals.openedition.org/eastafrica/452 Les Cahiers d’Afrique de l’Est / The East African Review La diffusion des plantes américaines dans la région des Grands Lacs Approches générale et sous-régionale, l’Ouest kényan Dissemination of the American Plants in the Great Lakes Region General and Sub-Regional Approaches, the Western Kenya 2019 © IFRA 2019 Les Cahiers d’Afrique de 1’Est / The East African Review n° 52, 2019 Chief Editor: Marie-Aude Fouéré Deputy Director: Chloé Josse-Durand Guest Editor: Elizabeth Vignati Editorial secretary: Bastien Miraucourt Cartographer: Valérie Alfaurt Avis L’IFRA n’est pas responsable des prises de position des auteurs. L’objectif des Cahiers est de diffuser des informations sur des travaux de recherche ou documents, sur lesquels le lecteur exercera son esprit critique.
    [Show full text]
  • Historical Background of the African Divine Church of Kenya O.M
    Volume 2, Issue 3, March 2015, PP 139-150 ISSN 2349-0373 (Print) & ISSN 2349-0381 (Online) www.arcjournals.org International Journal of Humanities Social Sciences and Education (IJHSSE) Historical Background of the African Divine Church of Kenya O.M. J. Nandi1 , Pamela Kima2 1Social Sciences Education Department, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 190 Kakamega, Kenya. [email protected] 2Social Sciences Education Department, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 190 Kakamega, Kenya. ABSTRACT European colonization of Africa was largely followed by a process of religious acculturation as older African religious and social traditions were threatened and partially replaced by new ones. Each new religious movement has its own peculiar causes or a combination of causes. The significance of these churches is important to note due to increasing numbers and growth usually at the expense of the historic and mission churches. Many of these AICs were founded by charismatic leaders who attracted followers through their preaching and healing, attributed to the power of the Holy Spirit. This article arises from fieldwork that adopted a descriptive research design within Hamisi District in western Kenya. Data was collected using questionnaires, oral interviews and participatory observation. This in-depth study details the historical background of the African Divine Church, its origins, mandate and development in present day Kenya. INTRODUCTION African independent church (AIC) movement is a phenomenon that has origins onthe African continent and is closely associated with colonialism. The factors that contributed to the rise of these movements include social, political and economic among others.
    [Show full text]