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Zephania Shila Nkesela – Thesis – VID SPECIALIZED UNIVERSITY A MAASAI ENCOUNTER WITH THE BIBLE: NOMADIC LIFESTYLE AS A HERMENEUTICAL QUESTION Dissertation submitted to VID Specialized University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (Ph.D) By Zephania Shila Nkesela Stavanger 2017 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS One Haya (ethnic group in Tanzania) proverb goes that “Many hands make light work.” I wish to extend my profound gratitude to all those who in different ways joined their hands with mine to the accomplishment of this work. Special thanks to VID Specialized University for designing the Maasai project and accepting me to be one of the researchers. Likewise, I am very grateful to the director of the project and my supervisor Professor Knut Holter. His criticisms, understanding, and encouragement throughout the three years of this project pushed me this far. My fellow Ph.D students, my fellow researcher in the project Dr. Hoyce Mbowe and the whole staff provided not only supportive but also an encouraging environment for me to accomplish this work. I also thank Professor Joseph Parsalaw, the Vice Chancellor of Tumaini Makumira University in Tanzania and all staff for their collaboration with the Maasai project. The library at Makumira has provided some resources to enrich this work. Thanks are due to my Maasai informants for being ready in not only in-depth interviews but also devoting their time to read biblical texts with me in groups. Thanks also to pastors who allowed me to conduct research in their parishes of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), North Central Diocese. I would have mentioned your names but the research protocols do not allow. Equally, I acknowledge my Church, the ELCT Central Diocese through the leadership of Bishop Dr. Alex Seif Mkumbo for permitting me to study abroad at the time when I was probably needed most in my capacity as General Secretary of the Diocese. Mentioned last but remembered most is my family. My wife Tumwitikege and our two children Paul and Rebeca were always praying and encouraging me to complete my studies. Though they stayed alone in Tanzania all three years, their psychological support kept me moving forward always. I am indebted to God Almighty and all of you for trying to put your hands helping me. Thank you very much, Ashe Naleng, Tusen Takk, Asanteni Sana. 3 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................................................... 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ 9 Chapter One ...................................................................................................................................... 11 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 11 1.1 A Case from Maasai ................................................................................................................ 11 1.2 Background and Context ......................................................................................................... 13 1.2.1 Marginalization of the Maasai ......................................................................................... 13 1.2.2 Initiatives to Curb Maasai Marginalization ...................................................................... 16 1.2.3 Bible Reading as a Contribution to Curb the Situation .................................................... 19 1.3 Research Context .................................................................................................................... 20 1.4 Research Question and Approach........................................................................................... 25 1.5 Aim of the Study...................................................................................................................... 26 1.6 Methodology ........................................................................................................................... 26 1.7 Ethical Considerations ............................................................................................................. 27 1.8 Scope and Limitations ............................................................................................................. 30 1.9 The Maasai .............................................................................................................................. 31 1.9.1 The People, Origin and Homeland Today ........................................................................ 31 1.9.2 Traditional Lifestyle of the Maasai ................................................................................... 34 1.9.3 Maasai Traditional Worldview ......................................................................................... 40 1.9.4 Maasai Oral Tradition ....................................................................................................... 43 1.10 Partial Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 44 Chapter Two ...................................................................................................................................... 45 THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ............................................................................................................ 45 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 45 2.2 The Maasai Oral “Text” ........................................................................................................... 45 2.3 Interpretive Context ................................................................................................................ 47 2.3.1 Christian Inculturation: Some general perspectives ........................................................ 48 2.3.2 Christian Inculturation Hermeneutics: Justin S. Ukpong ................................................. 52 2.3.3 Criticism of Justin S. Ukpong ............................................................................................ 55 2.3.4 Presenting Inculturation Hermeneutics of Biblical Interpretation .................................. 56 2.4 Actors ...................................................................................................................................... 58 2.4.1 Action Research ............................................................................................................... 58 2.4.2 Reading With .................................................................................................................... 60 5 2.5 Partial Conclusion.................................................................................................................... 68 Chapter Three ................................................................................................................................... 71 READING OLD TESTAMENT TEXTS IN MAASAI CONTEXT .................................................................. 71 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 71 3.2 Data Collection and Analysis ................................................................................................... 71 3.2.1 Biblical Texts..................................................................................................................... 72 3.2.2 Research Process ............................................................................................................. 73 3.2.3 Places Visited ................................................................................................................... 74 3.2.4 Research Population ........................................................................................................ 75 3.2.5 Facilitating the Reading Process ...................................................................................... 76 3.2.6 Analytical Strategy ........................................................................................................... 78 3.3 A Maasai Reading of Gen 13:1-12 ........................................................................................... 80 3.3.1 General Understanding of the Text ................................................................................. 80 3.3.2 The Concept of Prosperity ............................................................................................... 82 3.3.3 Maasai View on Abraham’s Pastoralism .......................................................................... 83 3.3.4 The Quarrel between Herdsmen ..................................................................................... 85 3.3.5 The Position of Lot in the Story ........................................................................................ 87 3.3.6 Solution to the Land Conflict ........................................................................................... 89 3.3.7 Lot’s Choice of Land ......................................................................................................... 90 3.3.8 Identification of Maasai with Characters and Issues in Gen. 13:1-12 ............................. 91 3.3.9 Responses of the Maasai Informants from the Reading Process .................................... 95 3.3.10
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