Hi/stories of Women’s Traumatic Experiences in Selected African Initiated Churches (AICs) in Zimbabwe

Bernard Pindukai Humbe; Dube Zorodzai

doi:10.25159/2412-4265/18983

Authors

Bernard Pindukai Humbe University of the Free State https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7694-7327
Dube Zorodzai University of the Free State

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/18983

Keywords:

African Initiated Church , prophetic healers, conditional healing, women abuse, kujorodhwa, sowe

Abstract

This study has a special focus on women’s experiences in African Initiated Churches’ (AICs) healing system, which has proved to be home to many indigenous Africans. These churches provide an alternative healing system, which is very appealing to the spirituality of the African indigenous worldview. This research marks a critical first step towards understanding the challenges related to women who get health and healing care services in AICs. It draws examples from the following selected African Initiated Churches, namely, Zvapupu Zvavapostori Church (ZZC), Zion Apostolic Church (ZAC), Johanne Marange Apostolic Church (JMAC), and three other Johane Masowe church groupings. Based on the findings of the study, the article intends to show that some of the healing practices in AICs result in traumatic experiences for the women who flock to these churches. These traumatic experiences are perceived as extraordinary and therefore deserve exploration in indigenous church history. This is because the church history in Zimbabwe has largely been silent about traumatic experiences encountered by women upon seeking healing in the various indigenous church groupings.

Author Biography

Bernard Pindukai Humbe, University of the Free State

University of the Free State, South Africa, Great Zimbabwe University

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