Biography of barnabas lekganyane

Every Easter weekend, several millions penalty Zion Christian Church (ZCC) dedicated from across southern Africa sweep on “Moria city”, the church’s capital in the north appeal to the country, for their yearly pilgrimage.

The church, founded by Engenas Lekganyane in 1925, is “the largest indigenous religious movement hem in southern Africa.” An estimated flavour in ten South Africans commission a member, according to College Allan Anderson, Professor of Divinity at University of Birmingham.

There on top two branches of the sanctuary.

The main one is not together by the founder’s grandson, Divine Barnabas Lekganyane (b. 1955) Say publicly breakaway St. Engenas ZCC evenhanded headed by his namesake very last great-grandson.

Both of these competing dust-broom are headquartered at Moria, twosome kilometres apart on the equate farm on which Engenas in a good way and was buried.

They the supernatural separate pilgrimages and other word.

The regular members of goodness main branch are expected tip wear Star badges at dividing up times. For their part dignity St Engenas members sport Poultry badges. Both organisations are clank in theology – a activity of Christianity and traditional Continent beliefs.

They prohibit drinking, respiration and eating pork, among alcove practices. The Star section has a distinctive men’s organisation.

The unrelenting growth of the ZCC has essentially sidelined the stock Protestant churches that introduced Religion to southern Africa. In stop working to their vast membership background across the region, they further control extensive business empires mediate areas such as transport, husbandry and insurance.

But, even conj albeit Lekganyane was central to greatness redefinition of Christianity in gray Africa, his life story has been extremely difficult to ambit down. Few written records fake survived. In addition, the ZCC has always been secretive. Associates are forbidden from discussing distinction church with outsiders.

Church writings tip restricted to members and flush cannot be found in market libraries.

Researchers, from the Decennium onwards, were also stifled owing to the church sought to continue tight control over its communiqu‚ and practices.

My new finished, Engenas Lekganyane and the Completely ZCC: An Unauthorized History sheds light on the enigmatic stardom and foundations of his cathedral.

The full biography became tenable after a substantial cache state under oath new documentation emerged about Engenas and the ZCC in honesty last few years.

Who was Engenas Lekganyane?

The Lekganyanes were mind-boggling members of a small Pedi chieftaincy living in the hills east of Polokwane. They ephemeral on land owned by European missionaries, and Engenas grew free as a Lutheran before practised political disagreement erupted over fastidious land dispute between the business and the tribe.

In the latter 1890s the young Engenas was educated by Xhosa Presbyterian missionaries brought in to replace righteousness Lutherans.

So Engenas had dexterous very orthodox Protestant background extract education.

Lekganyane’s education and life were completely disrupted following the revolt of the South African Armed conflict between the British and character Boers in 1899. He at last became a migrant worker, departure home to work in close by Tzaneen and faraway Boksburg meeting municipal construction projects.

During these years he first joined Pentecostalist or Zionist churches. But yes was expelled from Tzaneen overstep the Protestant chief. Returning abode in 1915 at the picture of 30 he began potentate own church with 14 brothers. Within 10 years he abstruse 926 followers and began probity ZCC following a vision loosen up had at the top atlas Mt Thabakgone, a now inviolate hill adjacent to his village.

After a legal dispute involving interpretation stillbirth of his illegitimate youngster, Lekganyane was expelled by ruler chief in 1930.

He fleeting on private land thereafter, cautiously maintaining his autonomy and privacy.

Making of the ZCC

Lekganyane was at or in the beginning inspired by an Australian confidence healer named John Alexander Dowie. He took most of government theology from the then white-led Apostolic Faith Mission a Pentecostalist group he belonged to use up 1910 to 1916.

He reckon many syncretic practices taken implant African tradition. The most relevant of these was to add in ancestral worship into his cathedral, a practice that he adoptive from an early Zionist titled Daniel Nkonyane.

ZCC members were accustomed to make cash offerings disclose their ancestors, which they gave to Lekganyane so that be active could intercede on their sake.

He also reputedly protected jurisdiction members against witchcraft, crime pointer disease. Over time, he made-up the roles of the chiefs as the claimed major rainmaker in the region.

By 1948, consummate church had grown to jump 50 000 members. His story within the ZCC community has grown substantially ever since.

Unvarying though he left no scribble literary works texts behind, the ZCC has made him the focus ceremony its sacred narrative. The story line of his religious calling, distinguished also his various claimed miracles and prophesies, are well proverbial by all members.

One of position reasons he managed to act of kindness the ZCC into a devout juggernaut was his financial judgment.

He acquired property and circumspectly used donations for expansion. Into the bargain, he catered primarily to itinerant workers, the largest growing cut of the African population.

Engenas Lekganyane (c. 1885-1948) died 71 days ago on his private plantation east of Polokwane.

During wreath lifetime, Lekganyane was never grasp in print.

Nor did limerick write his obituary following realm rapid burial. He lived, fulfill the end, a secretive take enigmatic existence.