Abstract
This article studies the rituals and ceremonies that are practised by Tsonga widows at a village in Giyani in Limpopo. The research is based on the observation of the exclusion of widows from church attendance and activities in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in South Africa (EPCSA). The study was conducted among Tsonga-speaking widows in the Tsonga community. The exclusion of widows is respected and understood by members of the church because they believe in respecting people’s cultural and traditional beliefs. This article attempts to study the conflict between Christianity and Tsonga mourning rituals and practices in the EPCSA. This is a qualitative study; however, literature is also included. Mourning rituals are presented and analysed to attempt to find ways in which practical theology can help the Tsonga widows in the EPCSA through liturgical inculturation as they undertake the mourning period. The authors recommend that a study on the effectiveness of mourning rituals for Tsonga widows would be fruitful for the EPCSA.
Highlights
The research discussed in this article consists of data on mourning rituals collected from six individual widows and a focus group consisting of seven widows
This qualitative research stresses the socially constructed nature of the reality that Tsonga widows face in their widowhood and rituals that they are exposed to during their 12-month mourning period
This article studied the rituals and ceremonies that are practised by Tsonga widows in a village in Giyani in Limpopo
Summary
The research discussed in this article consists of data on mourning rituals collected from six individual widows and a focus group consisting of seven widows. According to Aransiola and Ige in Akinbi (2015:69), in the Yoruba culture (Nigeria), when a husband passes away, his wife is often suspected as the cause of his death To prove her innocence and to protect her from the wrath of her husband’s spirit, a widow is made to go through various traditional rituals the moment her husband dies, as expected by his family. Some scholars consider these rituals to be evil and inhumane. The EPCSA and Tsonga widow mourning rituals will be discussed by means of a presentation and analysis of collected data
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