MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF ARTS DEPARTMENT OF THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES CAN A WOMAN LEAD? UNMASKING CULTURALLY-SANCTIONED GENDER INEQUALITY AMONG THE LEMBA OF MPOSI AREA, MBERENGWA SUBMITTED BY NKOMO SINOTHILE R137903G Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree in Theology and Religious Studies at Midlands State University SUPERVISOR DR. C. MWANDAYI JUNE, 2016 ABSTRACT The research focuses on the history of the Lemba people, the roles played by women in Lemba societal life and the capability of women to lead in Lemba culture as well as their potential to lead. Various techniques were employed to sample the respondents from Mposi area to gather data that was necessary for the study. Interviews and observations were used in this study. The research findings revealed that women have important roles to play in Lemba culture even though they are looked down upon by their male counterparts especially their being treated unfairly in some of the rituals. However, women have potential to lead in Lemba culture since they can perform some duties which are usually ascribed for men only. Lemba women also recommended some ways to combat gender inequality in their culture. It is recommended that the elders in Lemba culture should revisit some issues which lead to gender inequality. i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my Supervisor Dr. C Mwandayi for providing me with many insightful comments and suggestions during the development of this dissertation, I am grateful for his time and readiness to meet with me regularly through many formal conversations to enhance my intellectual potential. I also want to express my gratitude to my parents and my family for rendering spiritual and emotional support. My academic path could not have been bearable without you. Many thanks to my husband and my lovely son Akudzweshe B. Gambiza who were very supportive. Above all many thanks are given to the Lord for his love and tender mercies and for making this study possible. ii Table of Contents ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................................. i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................................... ii ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................................................................... v CHAPTER ONE ......................................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCING THE STUDY ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.0 Area of investigation ................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Aim and Objectives ....................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Methodology ................................................................................................................................. 2 1.3.1 Phenomenology .......................................................................................................................... 2 1.3.2 Feministic hermeneutics ............................................................................................................ 3 1.3.3 Data collection instruments ........................................................................................................... 5 1.3.4 Interviews ................................................................................................................................... 5 1.3.5 Observation ................................................................................................................................ 7 1.4 Justification of the study ................................................................................................................... 8 1.5 Literature review ............................................................................................................................... 8 CHAPTER TWO ...................................................................................................................................... 12 The History of the Lemba people ......................................................................................................... 12 2.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 12 2.1 The Origin of the Lemba people ..................................................................................................... 13 2.2 Jewish Traditional Origin of the Lemba ..................................................................................... 13 2.2.1 The Ngoma Lungundu / the Sacred Drum................................................................................ 17 2.3 Arabic Tradition Origin of the Lemba people ........................................................................... 18 2.4 History of the Lemba people of Mberengwa .................................................................................. 20 2.5 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 25 CHAPTER THREE .............................................................................................................................. 26 The roles of women in Lemba social life .............................................................................................. 26 3.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 26 3.1 Male circumcision/ Ngoma ......................................................................................................... 26 3.2 Female initiation (Komba) .......................................................................................................... 27 3.3 Home bringing ceremony (Kurova guva) ................................................................................... 30 3.4 Funeral ........................................................................................................................................ 31 3.5 Lobola (Bride price) .................................................................................................................... 31 3.6 Children’s lives ........................................................................................................................... 32 iii 3.7 Child bearing ............................................................................................................................... 32 3.8 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 33 CHAPTER FOUR ................................................................................................................................. 34 THE CAPABILITY AND POTENTIAL OF WOMEN AND WAYS TO COMBAT GENDER INEQUALITY BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN IN LEMBA CULTURE ....................................... 34 4.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 34 4.1 Capability and Potential of women to lead in Lemba culture ..................................................... 34 4.2 Ways of combating gender inequality in Lemba culture ................................................................ 36 4.3 Gender equality in creation stories .............................................................................................. 38 4.4 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 43 Summary, Recommendations and Conclusions .................................................................................... 44 5.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 44 5.1 Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 44 5.2 Recommendations ........................................................................................................................... 45 5.3 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 48 REFERENCES .................................................................................................................................... 50 INTERNET ........................................................................................................................................... 54 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS ................................................................................................................. 56 iv ABBREVIATIONS CMH Cohen Modal Haplotype ELCZ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe LCA Lemba Cultural Association v CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCING THE STUDY 1.0 Area of investigation This investigation focuses on the history of the Lemba people, the role played by women in their social lives, the capability of women in Lemba culture