Description
African independent churches have proliferated dramatically in southern Africa. There are 3 000 of these, of which 900 are in Soweto, the enormous African urban, area adjoining Johannesburg. One quarter of the total African population belongs to an independent church.
This is the first book on urban African independent churches in South Africa, and is the fruit of two years of intensive research in Soweto.
It shows the blending of African and Western beliefs and traditions, the importance of healing practices, the opportunities for leadership, and the network of co-operation between the independent churches, which appear to play a particularly important part in helping their members to adjust to urban life.
This book will be of interest not only to specialists in social anthropology, African studies and religion, but also to a wider public unaware of the significance, vitality and col-ourfulness of the independent church movement.
Professor Monica Wilson has written the Foreword.
The many dramatic photographs of ordination, healing practices, and baptism by total immersion were taken by the author.