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Essay EDT303Q - Religious Education (EDT303Q)
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Comparing the beliefs and practices of the Nguni speakers and Christianity.
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EDT303Q – Religious EducationUniversity of South Africa
Assignment 1
Comparing the beliefs and practices of the Nguni speakers and Christianity
Introduction
The phrase ‘African religion’, makes one to think that there is only one religion practiced in
all of Africa. Africa is rich in religious diversity and various African traditional religions that
date back centuries and are still in practice in the modern day. Through forces like slavery
and migration, African traditional religions have managed to spread across the world. These
conventional beliefs and practices have similarities with other religions worldwide such as
Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity etc. This essay seeks to find similarities between the
beliefs and practices of the Nguni people and those of Christians.
Brief history of Nguni and Christianity
The Nguni are comprised of different Bantu-speaking tribes living in the southern part of
Africa. Their practices and beliefs, including the development of their languages started in
the 19th Century. Research shows that the Nguni divided themselves into political groups that
were under the leadership of chieftaincy, hence the formation of the Zulu, Sotho, Swati,
Ndebele and Xhosa. Just like the Nguni, studies show that Christianity dates back centuries,
though a bit further (approximately 2000 years). Christianity originates in the Middle East
and was spread throughout the world by missionaries. It was inspired by Jesus Christ; people
following his way of life.
Beliefs Similarities
Both the Nguni and Christians believe in a Supreme Being who is the creator of everything
and dwells in heaven or in the sky. For the Nguni people, the Supreme Being inhabits the
spirit realm together with the ancestral spirits. They believe that everything was created and
is being maintained by this Being. This is also the same belief for Christians, that the
Supreme Being, who is God, is the creator of heaven, earth, and everything that is in it.
The Nguni and Christians address theirs Gods in many names. In Nguni, the name ‘Modimo’
is used in the Sotho language, which translates mystic power and source of life. In the Zulu
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