Identity, Catholicism, and Lozi Culture in Zambia's Western Province

Inculturation is conversion on a communal and cultural level. Using ethnographic fieldwork among Lozi Catholic communities in the Western Province of Zambia, the case is made that both conversion and inculturation represent the same process of identity formation. Conversion is defined as a process in which a person grants him or herself a new identity, and then follows through with action that is consistent with this new identity. Inculturation is shown to be analogous, because it consists in a community adopting a new identity, and then following through with action that is consistent with this new identity, while necessarily emphasizing continuity with its pre-existing identity. Using relevant background information from Lozi politics, history, and culture, the integration of Lozi traditions into Catholic Masses is examined. They are used as evidence that Lozi Catholic communities are intentionally pursuing inculturation, and that they should be interpreted as undergoing communal, cultural conversion, adopting and maintaining their identities as both Lozis and Catholics.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Johnson, Bradley Michael

• Barotseland

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/37270

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/37270