The reception of Genesis 1-3 in Nguni culture

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation looks at the reception of Gen. 1-3, one of the most controversial parts in theHebrew Bible. How was it interpreted by the Nguni speaking communities (e.g. Xhosa, Zulu,siSwazi and siNdebele) taking into consideration their background, culture and religiousbelief system?The reception approach is followed in the research because of its emphasis on the role of thereader in understanding texts. Sources that are utilized are Nguni Bible translations, selectedpreached sermons (which the researcher attended himself), Nguni stories and folk tales andreviews undertaken among selected Nguni groups.A close-reading of the texts under discussion is undertaken in order to determine the basiccontent and issues of interpretation involved. The central concepts of cosmogony ascontained in Gen. 1-2 are studied, as well as the story of the Garden of Eden and theconcept of the 'fall in Gen. 3.The map of the Nguni language group is described and the culture and belief system of theNguni speaking communities. Central concepts to this belief system are the worship ofancestors, marriage, circumcision, and among the Swazis the incwala (annual national feast)Legends and folk tales were used as sources for the Nguni belief system. It was determinedthat the Nguni speaking people worshipped one God in their traditional way, but alwaysthrough their ancestors as a sign of respect.The role of the missionaries is analyzed by describing the history of the various missionarysocieties and their influence on the Nguni peoples. A very short discussion is devoted topreached sermons by Nguni pastors in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.Bible translations have always played a very important role among Nguni speakers (bothChristians and non-believers). The need for translations using understandable contemporaryterms is emphasized. This is the challenge to the Bible societies and Bible translators.Qualitative reviews were undertaken under selected Nguni speaking groups (Xhosa, Zulu,siSwati and siNdebele). Some of the results obtained from these reviews (full transcripts areincluded) are:(1) that there is a common understanding of the origin of the universe between theHebrew Bible and the Nguni religious culture.(2) Serpent (Gen. 3): among the Zulus this concept is understood in terms of sexuality,but it can also be linked with the ancestors.(3) Both communities (Hebrew Bible and the Nguni) were tainted with the concept andideology of patriarchalism.The crucial question in the research was: 'what happens when a cosmogonic myth istransferred from one community to another? In the case of Gen. 1-3 an ancient Hebrew textwas transmitted to African cultures via missionaries and Bible translations. Nguni peoplereact differently. Whereas some accept Gen. 1-3 (cosmogonies and the 'fall) as a detailedexplanation of how creation and the 'fall came about, others reject it.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University