WAR, MEMORY AND SALVATION: THE BULHOEK MASSACRE AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CONTEXTUAL SOTERIOLOGY Volumell Appendices Martin De Porres Archibald Mandew Submitted in fulfilment of the academic requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Theology, University of Natal Pietermaritzburg, 1997 Table of contents Abstract Acknowledgements Map ofthe Eastern Cape Province Abbreviations Volume I Chapter 1. Introduction 1.1 Motivation 1 1.2 Problem formulation 4 1.3 Methodology 5 Chapter 2. Soteriological theories and cognate concepts 2.0 Introduction 15 2.1 Traditional models of soteriology 18 2.2 Salvation as comprehensive wellbeing 23 2.3 Salvation in liberation theologies 28 2.3.1 Salvation in Black Theology 30 23 .2 Salvation versus liberation? 36 2.4 Notions of soteriology in African Independent Churches 42 2.4. 1 Salvation as deculturization 44 2.4.2 Independentism 49 2.4.3 Salvation in Zion 51 2.5 Conclusion 57 Chapter 3. Methodological constructs and theoretical framework: Ricoeur to the rescue 3.0 Introduction 62 3. 1.Imagination: Kantian resources 65 3.2 Ideology and utopia 74 3.3 Temporality and narrativity 82 3.3.1 Plato 83 3.3.2 Aristotle 83 3.3.3 Augustine 84 3.3.4 Heidegger 85 3.3.5 Ricoeur makes more time 87 3.3.6 It's story time 89 3.4 Time as a site of struggle 97 3.5 A ' new' history 102 3.6 Metaphor and language 108 3.7 Conclusion 112 Chapter 4. Methodological constructs and theoretical framework: memory and ritual 4.0 Introduction 113 4.1 Memory and ritual 114 4.2 Commemorative ceremonies 116 4.3 Corporeal practices 124 4.4 Ritual and knowledge 128 4.5 Memory and domination 131 4.6 Conclusion 135 Chapter 5. The natives who caused all the trouble 5.0 Introduction 136 5.1 Who was Enoch Josiah Mgijima? 138 5.2 Who is Enoch Josiah Mgijima? 142 5.2.1 Aspects ofMgijima's theology of God 143 5.2.2 Mgijima in the testimonies and petitions ofthe saints 148 5.2.3 Mgijima and Crowdy 150 5.2.4 The prophecies and visions ofMgijima 152 5.2.4.1 God is destroying the world: the maize is stamped 152 5.2.4.2 A wick burning dimly in the midst of a thick darkness 156 5.2.4.3 Viva the he-baboon 156 5.2.4.4 Encirclement 157 ii 5.2.4.5 Sisyphus with a new mission 158 5.2.5 The titles of Mgijima 161 5.3 The Seven Keys: the plan of God 163 5.3.1 The first key: The Church of God and Saints of Christ 164 5.3.2 The second key: Do not drink wine 164 5.3.3 The third key: Take unleavened bread and water as body and blood of Christ 165 5.3.4 The fourth key: The washing of the feet 166 5.3.5 The fifth key: The disciples' prayer 166 5.3.6 The sixth key: You must be breathed upon to be accepted in the Church of God with a holy kiss 167 5.3.7 The seventh key: The Ten Commandments 167 5.4 The time of salvation: a time ofresistance 168 5.4.1 The hours of the day and the week 170 5.4.2 The year of salvation 170 5.5 Conclusion 171 Chapter 6. We are not a political movement. We are a prophetic movement 6.0 Introduction 172 6.1 You can't get a good person down 174 6.2 Power contested 177 6.2.1 Discursive moment one: creating space for utopia 178 6.2.2 Discursive moment two; enter God and Christ, the king and prince ofutopia 183 6.3.3 Discursive moment three: the power 190 6.3.4 Discursive moment four: and the glory 192 6.4 Power redefined 195 6.5 Conclusion 196 iii Chapter 7. We have now entered the Passover. We are on the way Part I 7.1 Some background 199 7.2 The night of freedom 200 7.2.1 The ritual preparation of the lamb 200 7.2.2 The ritual consumption of the lamb 204 7.3 The order and main elements of the liturgies 208 7.3.1 Early morning service 209 7.3.2 The order of the main service 209 7.3.3 Evening service and night prayer 221 Part Il 7.4 Days 1-2: the straw mat is unrolled 223 7.4.1 Dress code 223 7.4.2 "May God hide us" 225 7.4.3 A typology of petitions 227 7.4.4 "This thing ofMgijima is a problem" 228 7.4.5 "We are now in the desert. We left Egypt in the middle of the night" 230 7.5 Days 3-6: blood and heroes 233 7.5.1 "Be truthful that you too may enter the land ofpromise" 236 7.5.2 "I shall speak that which God has planted in my mouth" 240 7.5.3 "Calm down Lord from the heat ofyour anger" 244 7.5.4 "Get rid ofyour bag quietly" 248 7.6 Day seven: the straw mat is rolled up 250 7.7 A contextual pesach 255 7.7.1 The paschal identity of Shiloh 256 7.7.2 The God of salvation 258 7.7.3 A people that seek salvation 259 7.8 A contextual henneneutics 261 7.9 The ritual performances of salvation 263 7.9.1 The ritual offreedom 263 7.9.2 The dance offreedom 266 7.10 Conclusion 268 iv Chapter 8. The fast for freedom 8.0 Introduction 269 8.1 Background and structure 272 8.1.1 Dress code 273 8.1.2 Order of the liturgy 273 8.2 "We must ask for freedom" 274 8.3 Patriarchy and kyriarchy 280 8.4 "Esther is made of tough stuff, she is martyr material" 282 8.5 "May I change from my ways and be like Esther" 284 8.6 Down with queen Vashti, down! 285 8.7 What about the other women? 288 8.8 It's man's world 290 8.9 The prerequisites ofhuman survival 293 8.10 A variegated henneneutics 295 8.11 Views of salvation 297 8.12 Conclusion 298 Chapter 9. Remembering Mgijima and Bulhoek 9.0 Introduction 300 9.1 Commemorating the death ofMgijima 301 9.1.1 Structure ofthe liturgy 302 9.1.2 Theological motivation 304 9.1.3 The three wise men 306 9.1.4 "We have come here to request blessings" 307 9.1.5 The Prayer for deliverance 307 9.2 Remembering 24 May 1921 309 9.2.1 Liturgical structure 309 9.2.2 A henneneutics ofmeaningful memory 309 9.2.3 Prayers for the living and the dead 312 9.2.4 The memory of commitment 313 9.2.5 The commitment ofmemory 316 9.3 The salvation ofmemory 318 9.4 Conclusion 320 v Chapter 10. Conclusion 10.0 Introduction 321 10.1 Strategies for constructing a contextual soteriology 322 10.2 The material context of Israelite soteriology 326 10.3 A community of memory - a community of salvation 329 10.4 Foundations for a contextual soteriology 332 Bibliography 336 Volume II - Appendices 1. Interview with evangelist JJ Mbayi and Trustee Mbayi - 13.07.1993 346 2. Interview with evangelist JJ Mbayi - 04.03.1994 364 3. Interview with elder Cameron M. Dokoda - 5.03.1994 385 4.Interview with His Lordship, bishop Oliver Mzileni - 07.03.1994 403 5. Interview with evangelist JJ Mbayi and elder S. Mbayi -24.05.1994 411 6. Interview with elder Solomon Zolile Majezi - 26.05.1994 416 7. Interview with elder Moses M. Mzimkhulu - 26.05.1994 427 8. Interview with evangelist Gideon Ntloko - 12.07.1994 434 9. Passover festival - Day 1 447 10. Passover festival - Day 2 456 11. Passover festival - Day 3 462 12. Passover festival - Day 4 470 13. Passover festival- Day 5, early morning service 481 14. Passover festival - Day 5, communion service and evening service 483 15. Passover festival - Day 6, early morning service 491 16. Passover festival - Day 6, communion service and evening service 493 17. Passover festival- Day 77 early morning service 501 18. Passover festival- Day 7, communion service 503 19. Fast ofEsther: Day 1 510 Day 2 514 Day 3 517 Day 4 521 Day 5 525 Day 6 532 Day 7 535 vi Appendix 1 Interview with evangelist JJ Mbayi and Trustee Mbayi 13 July 1993, Shiloh, Whittlesea Mbayi = Evangelist 1.1. Mbayi Trustee = Trustee Mbayi Researcher RESEARCHER: What is the official name ofyour church? MBAYI: It is the Church ofGod and Saints ofChrist, taken from 1 Cor 1, 1-2. Our belief is that all the Scriptures were given under the inspiration of God. They help in teaching and instruction, making things right, in punishment and in leading to righteousness. We also believe that no one will ever abide in heaven, the righteous (amalungisa) will not abide in heaven. Heaven is solely for God. It is God's abode alone. We believe that the righteous will abide here on earth, but it will be a new earth, not this earth. This earth will pass (lomhlaba uyedlula). There will be a new heaven and a new earth. God is preparing a city for the righteous, it is the New Jerusalem. This is what we teach, we do not teach heaven. RESEARCHER: How do you understand the notion ofsalvation? MBAYI:As far as salvation is concerned we teach that this world will be destroyed The righteous, those who have grace (abanofefe) will escape this impending destruction of the world.