- Title
- Exploring the spiritual meaning of water among Amaxhosa: The study of spiritual practices in Isinuka
- Creator
- Menye, Nomtha
- Subject
- Healing waters -- Eastern Cape
- Subject
- Xhosa (African people) --Religion -- South Africa
- Date Issued
- 2022-04
- Date
- 2022-04
- Type
- Master's theses
- Type
- text
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55811
- Identifier
- vital:53885
- Description
- This study explores the spiritual relationship of water and uluntu lwase (people of) Port St. Johns, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Particularly the people that reside or regularly visit Isinuka sacred springs. This is done through an analysis and observations of the ritual practises performed at Isinuka sacred springs in Port St. Johns. This spring has provided sacred water used for healing, cleansing, and drinking for decades. Therefore, in this research we use the sacred water as an analysis point to understand the genesis of the ecological relationship of indigenous people and the environment. More so, this study uses the sacred water of the spring as an access point into indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) that have been passed on and maintained throughout history by the African elders. µRitual archives¶ have proved to carry indigenous knowledge systems on the history and philosophies of native regions and countries. Therefore, folktales, rituals, idioms and songs are didactic, and were intended to teach and sustain Isintu sakwa Xhosa (customs). This study uses observations ritual practises and face to face interviews to uncover the importance of nature and indigenous understanding of the environment from AmaXhosa residing in this area. The study was conducted in Port St. Johns in the rural parts of the Eastern Cape. Port St. Johns is a region of residing amaMpondo, which is an isiXhosa dialect. Therefore, amaMpondo and AmaXhosa are used in the study interchangeably. The researcher spent weeks visiting the spring daily and conducting qualitative semi-structured interviews. Observations and partaking in rituals were also used as a methodological approach to understand and capture the full experience of the sacred spring. The study uses the concept of as a medium to examine the relationship of water to spiritual ritual practises. The study literature shows a huge disjuncture between the literature written about the spring and the sociological meaning of the spring to the people that visit the spring. The results showed that the healing properties in the spring were caused by elements such as sulphur(s) and not the only the ritual practises that are performed at the spring. The study shows that, it is in the ritual practises that native Africans show their knowledge of the historical cosmological relationship between people and the environment. This is indicated in their use of sacred sites such as caves, rivers and ocean water to communicate with their ancestors. This study hopes to contribute towards a richer understanding of spirituality, ritual and archival work, for a holistic policymaking when dealing with water policies through an inclusive African indigenous perspective.
- Description
- Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Sociology and anthropology, 2022
- Format
- computer
- Format
- online resource
- Format
- application/pdf
- Format
- 1 online resource (xi,138 pages)
- Format
- Publisher
- Nelson Mandela University
- Publisher
- Faculty of Arts
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Nelson Mandela University
- Rights
- All Rights Reserved
- Rights
- Open Access
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| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | Menye, Y.pdf | 2 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |