Johane Masowe is a name attributed to fellowship and the white garment African church. Its founding can be traced back in 1932, in the Norton, Marimba park , Mashonaland West province, in Zimbabwe. It was founded by Shoniwa Masedza (born 1914– died 1973), an African preacher and religious leader.[3] The name "Johane Masowe" means "John of the Wilderness", and alludes to John the Baptist.[4]
Johane Masowe | |
|---|---|
| Born | Shoniwa Masedza 1 October 1914[1] |
| Died | 13 September 1973 (aged 58) |
In 1932, Masowe suffered a long illness, and was unable to speak or walk. Afterwards, he believed he had been "sent from Heaven to carry out religious work among the natives".[5] He initially had the nickname "Sixpence".[6]
He proclaimed that the holy spirit Johane (John the baptist) was upon him to proclaim the Gospel to the Black Africans so that when they die, their spirits will be able to go to God Almighty in heaven. This was opposed to the African beliefs especially in Zimbabwe where the majority worshipped ancestors and followed the spirit mediums.
He spent the 1930s as an itinerant preacher throughout southern Africa, and settled in Port Elizabeth in 1947.[7]
Masowe's followers eventually created several different churches. These include the Masowe weChishanu Church (weChishanu referring to observing the Sabbath on Friday), and the Gospel of God Church, which observes Sabbath on Saturdays.[8]
The term Vapostori is used to describe those who follow the teachings of Masowe as well as some closely linked traditions.
Notes
edit- ^ a b Dillon-Malone 1978, p. 41.
- ^ Reese 2008.
- ^ Robert, Reese (1914–1973). "Masowe, Johane". Dictionary of African Christian Biography. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
- ^ Mukonyora 2007, p. 14.
- ^ Engelke 2007, p. 79.
- ^ Griffith & Savage 2006, pp. 66–68.
- ^ Dillon-Malone 1978, p. 28.
- ^ Engelke 2007, pp. 3–4.
References
edit- Dillon-Malone, Clive M. (1978). The Korsten Basketmakers : a study of the Masowe apostles, an indigenous African religious movement. Zambian: [Institute for African Studies]. ISBN 0719014107.
- Engelke, Matthew (2007). A problem of presence beyond Scripture in an African church. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0520940048.
- Griffith, R. Marie; Savage, Barbara Diane, eds. (2006). Women and religion in the African diaspora : knowledge, power, and performance. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0801883695.
- Mukonyora, Isabel (2007). Wandering a gendered wilderness suffering & healing in an African initiated church. New York: Lang. ISBN 978-0820488837.
- Reese, Robert (2008). "Masowe, Johane | Dictionary of African Christian Biography". dacb.org.
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