Religion in Swaziland

Religion in Swaziland (2010)[1]
Religion Percent
Christianity
  
 88.1%
Unspecified
  
 10.1%
Traditional
  
 1.0%
Islam
  
 0.2%
Others or none
  
 0.6%
A Church in Bethel, Swaziland in 1930.

Christianity is the dominant religion in Swaziland.[2] The relative prevalence precentage vary by source. According to Pew Research, over 88% of the total 1.2 million population of Swaziland express Christianity to be their faith, over 10% express no affliation.[1] According to the US State Department religious freedom report of 2012, local religious leaders estimate that 90% of Swaziland's population is Christian, 2% Muslim, while under 10% belong to other religious groups.[3] According to the CIA world fact book, the distribution is 40% Zionist, 20% Roman Catholic, Muslim 10%, other (includes Anglican, Baha'i, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish) 30%. In other sources such as Clay Potts, the religious demographics are 80% Christian, and 20% Traditional Swazi religion.[4]

Anglican, Protestant and indigenous African churches including African Zionist, and Roman Catholics constitute the majority of the Christians in the country.[2] On 18 July 2012, Ellinah Wamukoya was elected Anglican Bishop of Swaziland; on 17 November 2012 she became the first woman to be consecrated as a bishop in Africa.[2][5]

The Constitution of the Kingdom, which went into effect on February 8, 2006, provides for freedom of religion. The Government respects freedom of religion.[2] There have been reports, as of 2012 of societal discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice.[3]

Christianity

The king of Swaziland, Mswati II invited Methodist Christian missionaries to his kingdom in 1825.[6] The first church to be established in the country was the Methodist Wesleyan Mission was established in Mahamba in 1844.[7] However, the Christian missions largerly failed through 1881, and had few conversions to their credit.[6] A larger presence of missionaries began in 1881 when members of the United Society arrived to establish the presence of the Church of England. Lutherans arrived in 1887 from Germany, and Methodists restarted their efforts in 1895 out of their Christian missions in South Africa.[6][8]

A Gothic-style church, which was built in 1912, still stands in Mahamba, and is the oldest existing place of worship in the country.[7] A large Roman Catholic presence, including churches, schools, and other infrastructure, exists in the country.[2] The country forms a single diocese – the Diocese of Manzini. The Zionist Churches, which blend Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship, and were developed in the early part of the 19th century, predominate in rural areas.[2] Christian holidays such as Good Friday, Christmas, Ascension Day are part of the national holiday calendar.

The Christianity followed by Swazi people incorporates rituals, singing, dancing and iconography of the traditional Swazi religion. According to Sibongile Nxumalo, the Christian missionaries that ignored or misconstrued "the positive aspects of traditional beliefs, customs and institutions of Swazi society" have largely been unsuccessful. More successful missions have adopted a syncretic approach.[8]

The Christian organizations of Swaziland have been closely involved in the politics of the country. The colonial era Swaziland League of African Churches has had a long relationship with the royalty of Swaziland, and held public ceremonies such as Easter on the behalf of the King. The Zionist churches celebrate the Good Friday over three days with singing and dancing.[9] The Swaziland Conference of Churches have historically attempted to be apolitical, but in 2004 they campaigned to make Christianity the state religion through a constitutional amendment, a move opposed by the King.[9] The third politically influential Christian organization in Swaziland has been the Council of Swaziland Churches, established in 1976 as refugees flooded into Swaziland, and this group voiced views on Apartheid in South Africa and the on-going civil war in nearby Mozambique. Their views contradicted the state's position, and the leaders of this new Council were then threatened with arrests and prison terms.[9]

Swazi religion

The traditional Swazi religion recognizes a supreme God/creator, but more important are the spirits of ancestors. Swazi religion speaks of a creator known as Mvelincanti (he who was there from the beginning). However, Mvelincanti is too remote and so it is ancestral spirits emadloti is more relevant in day-to-day life.[10] Beasts are slaughtered and beer was brewed to please (propitiate) the spirits, and ask for help. The rituals are performed at the level of family associated with birth, death and marriage.[10] Some Swazis blend these traditions with contemporary Christian practices.

Incwala

Main article: Incwala

In the hierarchy of Swazi society, the king assumes the leadership position. The incwala ritual, which is performed annually, is considered a national religious event. The objectives of the event are to reflect the growth of the king,[11] and to thank the ancestors for good harvests and to pray for good rain in the coming year. This event, which only takes place when there is a king, is the most sacred national event and all male Swazis are participant. The holiday for incwala depends on the phases of the moon, and is at the end of the six week event.

Other religions

Followers of Islam, the Baha'i Faith, Hinduism and Judaism are largely immigrants located in urban areas.[6][2] According to the US State department, Islam forms about 2% of the population,[3] while 10% of the population is Muslim according to the CIA Fact book,[12] and other sources state it is less than 1%.[1] The Muslims in Swaziland are indentured workers who arrived from South Asia during the colonial era.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Religious composition by country, Pew Research, Washington DC (2012)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Religious Intelligence. "Country Profile: Swaziland (Kingdom of Swaziland)". Archived from the original on 28 June 2008.
  3. 1 2 3 US State Dept. "Religious Freedom Index 2012". Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  4. ↑ Claypotts Trust. "FACTS ABOUT SWAZILAND". Claypotts Trust. Designed and Hosted by Computronics Systems. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  5. ↑ US State Dept. "Religious Freedom Index 2012". Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 J. Gordon Melton; Martin Baumann (2010). Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, 2nd Edition. ABC-CLIO. pp. 2769–2770. ISBN 978-1-59884-204-3.
  7. 1 2 Christina Forsyth-Thompson. "THE SHISELWENI REGION". Swaziland Discovery. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  8. 1 2 Erwin Fahlbusch (2008). The Encyclodedia of Christianity. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. pp. 241–242. ISBN 978-0-8028-2417-2.
  9. 1 2 3 Elias Kifon Bongmba (2015). Routledge Companion to Christianity in Africa. Routledge. pp. 391–392. ISBN 978-1-134-50577-7.
  10. 1 2 Kasenene, Peter (1992). Religion in Swaziland. South Africa: ABC-CLIO. p. 384. ISBN 0313032254.
  11. ↑ "Swazi – Religion and Expressive Culture". Advameg, Inc. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  12. ↑ "The CIA World Factbook Swaziland". US Govt. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
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