Visualising diverse religious performances: the “sacred” and the “profane” in Zimbabwean football

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article deploys Mircea Eliade’s concept of the sacred and the profane (The Sacred and the Profane. London: Harvest, 1959) to demonstrate the symbolic architecture of diverse religious performances, myths, and rituals in Zimbabwean football. Football is a critical space for viewing the religious, political, and cultural dimensions of most societies across the globe. However, cultural studies of sport in Africa have under-theorised the interface of religion and sport in the Zimbabwean context and, in the process, have remained desperately underdeveloped. This study employed ethnographic research methods, particularly participant observation during Premier Soccer League (PSL) matches in purposively selected football stadiums between 2012 and 2015. In-depth interviews were also conducted with selected fans, footballers, and coaches in Zimbabwe. Newspaper stories which reported “contentious” incidents of religion and spirituality in football during the period of study were also analysed. The study shows the complex interaction of football and religion in Zimbabwe. In essence, it provides deeper insights into the religious syncretism, superstitions, and myths underlying football cultures in the Zimbabwean context.