Customs, Beliefs, and Christianity Within the Life of the Bakgatla Ba Mosetlha
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CUSTOMS, BELIEFS, AND CHRISTIANITY WITHIN THE LIFE OF THE BAKGATLA BA MOSETLHA BY MOGAPI J LETEBELE Student Number: 16389434 Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF THEOLOGY IN SCIENCE OF RELIGION AND MISSIOLOGY FACULTY OF THEOLOGY University of Pretoria South Africa SUPERVISOR: PROF. S.T. KGATLA SUMMARY Christianity and African customs and beliefs continue to coexist in the African community. The community seeks to remain true to itself as far as customs and beliefs are concerned. This study seeks to explore the role of Christianity in the makeover of Africa, the subsequent degeneration of customs and beliefs on the BaKgatla Ba Mosetlha and how Christianity affects the value of life of the BaKgatla Ba Mosetlha. The BaKgatla Ba Mosetlha, a section of the BaTswana people, is made up of several villages that are inhabited not only by the BaKgatla but also by non- BaKgatla who have been allowed residence there. This research study has been undertaken by using the mixed methods approach with the use of computerised software to maximise the data collection, validity and reliability of the study. A grounded theory has been employed as it requires the researcher to constantly interact with the data from the beginning. Tribal council and village meetings have been attended and other methods have enhanced the process and the study immensely. It has emerged from the study that the tribe is as proud of their customs and beliefs as they are of the SeTswana culture. The presence of Christianity has muddied the waters for those with little background and leadership to provide guidance and direction to the tribe. As a result of this a number of factors have contributed to the degeneration of customs and beliefs and the total collapse of tribal institutions of the BaKgatla Ba Mosetlha. The indecisive tribal and village leadership and the unavailability of literature on the customs and beliefs of the BaTswana people have added to the unhelpful situation within which the people find themselves. The booming and unrelenting ‘Jesus Ministry’ and the emergence of local government have been some of the challenges facing the already handicapped tribe. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to my supervisor, Prof. S.T. Kgatla, for his positive attitude, support, guidance and exceptional insight. Prof. Kgatla has been a compass in times of uncertainty and with humility, patience and respect has walked alongside me in this journey. I am also eternally grateful to the Chief Nchaupe Makapan for his support, assistance and permission and access to the BaKgatla Ba Mosetlha people. The chief has demonstrated leadership and love for the BaKgatla people by actively participating in the conversations to explore ways of empowering his people. The participation and eagerness of the BaKgatla people, the village elders and the tribal council are appreciated and treasured. A special thanks go to Rre *Ngaka from Botswana, the Tswana traditional healer who greatly contributed and participated in the study. His insight and knowledge of the BaTswana customs, beliefs and traditional healing cannot be measured. Acknowledgements also go to Tsholofelo Pitse, Abe Khunwana and Ramosweu Kubyane for their tireless efforts in the dissemination and collection of the questionnaires. My gratitude also extends to the University of Pretoria, the Department of Science of Religion and Missiology, the Faculty of Theology and, more importantly, the library services. The time and support that they invested in me is immensely appreciated with the greatest humility I can muster. Lastly, I thank God for my family, my wife, Mbali, and my daughters, Molebogeng, Masego, and Keotshepile, for their unwavering support even in the periodical loss of their husband and father to the research study and the countless field work. It can only be the amazing grace and the abounding love of God that saw us through the work. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY........................................................................................................................ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................... iii GLOSSARY OF THE SETSWANA TERMS ............................................................................. vii DEFINITIONS OF CONCEPTS/TERMS ............................................................................... viii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................1 1.1. Scramble for Africa ............................................................................................................ 1 1.2. Background ....................................................................................................................... 8 1.3. Problem Statement ........................................................................................................... 8 1.4. Research Questions ......................................................................................................... 13 1.5. Specific Aim..................................................................................................................... 13 1.6. Conceptual Framework .................................................................................................... 14 1.7. Research Methodology .................................................................................................... 14 1.7.1. Research design ..................................................................................................................15 1.7.2. Selection of participants (sampling) ...................................................................................15 1.8. Assumptions ................................................................................................................... 17 1.9. Data Collection ................................................................................................................ 17 1.9.1. Quantitative techniques .....................................................................................................17 1.9.2. Qualitative techniques ........................................................................................................17 1.10. Data Analysis and Interpretation .................................................................................... 18 1.11. Triangulation of the Findings.......................................................................................... 18 1.12. Ethical Considerations ................................................................................................... 18 1.13. Contributions of the Study ............................................................................................. 18 1.14. Arrangement of the Study.............................................................................................. 19 1.15. Concluding Observations ............................................................................................... 20 CHAPTER 2: THE BATSWANA, THEIR RELIGION AND PRACTICES ....................................... 21 2.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 21 2.2. African Traditional Religions ............................................................................................ 21 2.2.1. Belief in God ........................................................................................................................22 2.2.2. Ancestor veneration............................................................................................................23 2.2.3. Worldview ...........................................................................................................................24 2.2.4. Myths ..................................................................................................................................24 iv 2.3. The BaTswana and their Religious Practices ..................................................................... 25 2.3.1. Historical setting of BaTswana people ................................................................................25 2.3.2. Social setting .......................................................................................................................27 2.3.3. Various clans and groupings among the BaTswana people ...............................................28 2.3.4. Totemism (seano, pl. diano) ...............................................................................................32 2.3.5. The BaKgatla tribes .............................................................................................................33 2.3.6. BaKgatla Ba Mosêtlha .........................................................................................................35 CHAPTER 3: CHRISTIANITY AND ITS BELIEF SYSTEMS ....................................................... 53 3.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 53 3.2. Christian Missions to Africa.............................................................................................. 54 3.3. Missions to BaTswana ..................................................................................................... 59 3.4. The Holy Scriptures.........................................................................................................