THE CONTINUITY OF LIFE IN AFRICAN RELIGION

WITH REFERENCE TO MARRIAGE AND DEATH

AMONG THE ZULU PEOPLE.

by

WILMOT RONALD MUSA NGOBESE

submitted in part fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of

MASTER OF THEOLOGY

in the subject

RELIGIOUS STUDIES

at the

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA

SUPERVISOR: PROF GJA LUBBE

NOVEMBER 2003

STUDENT NUMBER 434-530-4

I declare that THE CONTINUITY OF LIFE IN AFRICAN RELIGION WITH

REFERENCE TO MARRIAGE AND DEATH AMONG THE ZULU PEOPLE
is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been
indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references.

SIGNATURE
(REV. W R M NGOBESE)

(i)

..
DATE

SUMMARY
THE CONTINUITY OF LIFE IN AFRICAN RELIGION WITH
REFERENCE TO MARRIAGE AND DEATH AMONG THE ZULU
PEOPLE.

The world has become more and more religiously plural. It is therefore
essential to acknowledge the meaningful aspects in the essence of all religions,
including African Religion.
The dissertation seeks to highlight the concept, continuity of life in African
Religion. Special emphasis is placed on the Zulus due to the vastness of the African
continent. Three areas are investigated to show that there is the belief in life after
death in African Religion, as it is the case with all great world religions, such as
Judaism, Islam and Christianity. These are the sacredness of life, marriage with the
gift of children as a blessing from the ancestors, as well as rites and ceremonies
associated with death which show that the dead are still alive in a mysterious form.

The conclusion is therefore that African Religion has a world status and should
be included amongst the great world religions.

TITLE OF THESIS:
THE CONTINUITY OF LIFE IN AFRICAN RELIGION WITH
REFERENCE TO MARRIAGE AND DEATH AMONG THE ZULU
PEOPLE.

KEY TERMS:
African Renaissance; Intrinsic values; Polygamy; Death; Marriage; Continuity
of Life; African religion; Myth; Ancestor.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My sincere thanks and appreciation goes to the following people:

My sister and brother-in-law, Hlengi and Pat Mkhize for their support.

My friend and colleague in the ministry, Rev Martin Mnguni, for his
encouragement and providing me with relevant information as an
expert in Zulu literature.

Dr P Mngadi and S Hlongwane for their wise advice as experts in Zulu

culture and literature.

Lynn Pitts for her time and patience in editing the script.

Winifred Tshabalala for her time and patience in repeatedly typing the
script and making relevant corrections.

Prof G A J Lubbe for support and encouragement.

Without his

guidance the dream of this dissertation would not be realized.

and most importantly, I wish to thank Florence, my wife and our

daughters, Thuli, Pam and Ndumi, as well as my grandson, Njabulo for
their love, support and understanding.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE
1.

Introduction

1.1.

Parameters of the dissertation

1.2.

Relevance of the topic

1.3.

Reason for a particular interest in the topic

1.4.

Personal interest in the continuity of life

1.5.

Reason for concentrating on the Zulus

1.6.

Four main components of the theme

1.7.

African Religion as a religious tradition

1.8.

Centrality of marriage and death in Zulu Culture

12

1.9.

An outline of Zulu religion

13

1.10.

Methodology

15

1.10.1.

The things themselves

15

1.10.2.

Intentionality

16

1.10.3.

Epoche

17

1.10.4.

Essences

17

1.11.

Data collection

18

1.12.

Definition of Concepts

20

1.13.

Literature Survey

24

Life

29

Concept of life amongst the Zulus

29

2.1.

The Zulus as a people

29

2.2.

The Zulus and the Supreme Power

30

Some creation myths

32

2.3.

Manifestations of the deity among the Zulus

34

2.4.

Continued life through the ancestors

37

2.5.

The concept of ubuntu

44

2.

2.2.1.

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2.6.

Life as a vital force

45

2.7.

Enemies of life and its restoration

47

2.8.

Morality or Ethics

49

2.9.

The restoration of life

51

Marriage

56

African marriage in general

56

3.1.

Forms of marriage

60

3.2.

Marriage related matters

62

3.3.

The continuity of life and marriage rites

64

3.4.

Zulu marriage

66

3.5.

Marriage and the continuity of life

70

3.5.1.

Farewell dance

70

3.5.2.

The role of prayer in a wedding ceremony

71

3.5.3.

Clans national anthem

72

35.4.

Procreation and barrenness

73

Corporate nature of marriage

76

Death

79

Definition of death

79

4.1.

Cause of death

80

4.2.

Types of death

83

4.3.

Rites

84

4.3.1.

Farewell speech

84

4.3.2.

Burial and possessions

85

4.3.3.

The bringing back ceremony

87

4.4.

An analysis of Zulu poems on death

92

4.5.

Connection between death and marriage

96

Conclusion

98

3.

3.6.
4.

5.

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5.1.

Summary of chapters 2, 3, 4

98

5.2.

Concluding comments

110

Annexure I

111

Interview questions

111

Annexure II

113

The important role played by women

113

Bibliography

116

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