Thesis (DLitt)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation looks at the reception of Gen. 1-3, one of the most controversial parts in the
Hebrew Bible. How was it interpreted by the Nguni speaking communities (e.g. Xhosa, Zulu,
siSwazi and siNdebele) taking into consideration their background, culture and religious
belief system?
The reception approach is followed in the research because of its emphasis on the role of the
reader in understanding texts. Sources that are utilized are Nguni Bible translations, selected
preached sermons (which the researcher attended himself), Nguni stories and folk tales and
reviews undertaken among selected Nguni groups.
A close-reading of the texts under discussion is undertaken in order to determine the basic
content and issues of interpretation involved. The central concepts of cosmogony as
contained in Gen. 1-2 are studied, as well as the story of the Garden of Eden and the
concept of the “fall” in Gen. 3.
The map of the Nguni language group is described and the culture and belief system of the
Nguni speaking communities. Central concepts to this belief system are the worship of
ancestors, 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 determined
that the Nguni speaking people worshipped one God in their traditional way, but always
through their ancestors as a sign of respect.
The role of the missionaries is analyzed by describing the history of the various missionary
societies and their influence on the Nguni peoples. A very short discussion is devoted to
preached sermons by Nguni pastors in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.Bible translations have always played a very important role among Nguni speakers (both
Christians and non-believers). The need for translations using understandable contemporary
terms 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 are
included) are:
(1) that there is a common understanding of the origin of the universe between the
Hebrew 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 and
ideology of patriarchalism.
The crucial question in the research was: “what happens when a cosmogonic myth is
transferred from one community to another?” In the case of Gen. 1-3 an ancient Hebrew text
was transmitted to African cultures via missionaries and Bible translations. Nguni people
react differently. Whereas some accept Gen. 1-3 (cosmogonies and the “fall”) as a detailed
explanation of how creation and the “fall” came about, others reject it. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie proefskrif kyk na die resepsie van Gen. 1-3, een van die mees kontroversiële dele in
die Hebreeuse Bybel. Hoe word dit geïnterpreteer deur die Ngunisprekende gemeenskappe
(Xhosas, Zoeloes, Swazi’s en Ndebele-groepe), met inagneming van hulle agtergrond,
kultuur en stelsel van godsdienstige oortuigings?
Die resepsiebenadering word in hierdie navorsing gevolg weens die klem op die rol van die
leser in hoe tekste verstaan word. Die bronne wat aangewend is, is Ngunibybelvertalings,
geselekteerde preke (wat die navorser self bygewoon het), Ngunistories en -volksverhale, en
onderhoude wat met geselekteerde Ngunigroepe gevoer is.
'n In-dieptestudie van die betrokke tekste is onderneem ten einde die basiese inhoud en
interpretasiekwessies te bepaal. Die sentrale konsep van kosmogonie, soos vervat in Gen. 1-
2, is bestudeer, asook die storie oor die Tuin van Eden en die konsep van die “sondeval” in
Gen. 3.
Die kaart van die Ngunitaalgroep word beskryf, asook die kultuur en geloofstelsel van die
Ngunisprekende gemeenskappe. Sleutelkonsepte in hierdie geloofstelsel is die aanbidding
van voorvaders, die huwelik, besnydenis, en onder die Swazi’s, die incwala (jaarlikse
nasionale fees). Legendes en volksverhale is gebruik as bronne vir die Ngunigeloofstelsel.
Daar is vasgestel dat die Ngunisprekende mense altyd een God aanbid het op hulle
tradisionele manier, maar altyd deur voorvaders as 'n teken van respek.
Die rol van die sendelinge word ontleed deur die geskiedenis van die verskeie
sendinggenootskappe te beskryf, asook hulle invloed op die Ngunimense. 'n Baie kort
bespreking word gewy aan preke gelewer deur Ngunipastore in die Sewendedaagse
Adventistekerk.Bybelvertalings het nog altyd 'n baie belangrike rol gespeel onder Ngunisprekers (beide
Christene en nie-gelowiges). Die behoefte vir vertalings wat verstaanbare, kontemporêre
terme gebruik, word beklemtoon. Dít is die uitdaging wat aan die bybelgenootskappe en
bybelvertalers gestel word.
Kwalitatiewe onderhoude is afgelê onder geselekteerde Ngunisprekende groepe (Xhosas,
Zoeloes, Swazi’s en Ndebele-groepe). Resultate wat verkry is van hierdie evaluerings
(waarvan volledige transkripsies voorsien word) sluit in:
(1) dat daar 'n gemeenskaplike begrip is van die oorsprong van die heelal by die
Hebreeuse Bybel en die Ngunigeloofskultuur;
(2) dat die konsep van die slang (Gen. 3) onder die Zoeloes in terme van seksualiteit
verstaan word, maar dat dit ook met die voorvaders in verband gebring kan word; en
(3) dat beide gemeenskappe (Hebreeuse Bybel en die Nguni) tekens dra van die konsep
en ideologie van patriargisme.
Die kernvraag in die navorsing was: “Wat gebeur wanneer ’n kosmogoniese mite oorgedra
word van een gemeenskap na 'n ander?”. In die geval van Gen. 1-3 is 'n ou Hebreeuse teks
oorgedra na Afrikakulture via sendelinge en bybelvertalings. Ngunimense reageer
verskillend. Waar sommige Gen. 1-3 aanvaar (kosmogonieë en die “sondeval”) as 'n
gedetailleerde verduideliking van hoe die skepping en die “sondeval” plaasgevind het, word
dit deur ander verwerp.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/16056 |
| Date | 10 August 2011 |
| Creators | Gwala, Mzonzima |
| Contributors | Cornelius, I., Thipa, H., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | D, xvi, 428 leaves : ill. |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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