The Sunday Mail
Friday Chisanyu
In Zimbabwe most companies are closed during this Easter holiday due to the fact that the owners believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Some, however, do not celebrate because they do not believe in Christianity.
Easter holiday becomes an opportunity for most African people to celebrate their achievements from the ancestors. Christians incorrectly interpret this as witchcraft or demon worshipping.
Some young Africans who believe in the traditional religion are forced to adopt Christian religion by their elders.
The African people believe in a supreme God whom they can only interact with through their ancestral spirits.
The spirits have a high degree of influence in the African religion because of their relationship with God. The belief is that only the spirits of fully grown people can resurrect and possess a living person.
A deceased person can become a spirit after there is an initiative ceremony known as “kurova guva” which is done either during Easter holiday or in August (Heroes’ and Defence Forces’ Days) because that is when most people are free.
People will spend the night playing drums and singing. They pour beer on the deceased’s grave to invite the spirit home to protect the family.
In the African religion, ‘spirit’ is a broad term which encompasses a class known as shavi.
This group is highly celebrated by many Africans, including Christians. One may not understand about mashavi but believe in midzimu. That is the broad name of the spirits.
The possessed person becomes a medium with the mandate to hold ceremonies during holidays when relatives have time.
Zimbabweans are seen carrying dual membership as they are seen celebrating both traditional and Christian achievements on the same holiday, not regarding any of them as taboo.
On traditional ceremonies, people will be presenting their hardships and requesting for better fortunes from ancestors or their prophets and high priests.
We may name this day as an inter-faith day because most people will be celebrating according to their beliefs in a manner that maximizes their morale.
People of African traditional religion believe in God, that is why they offer sacrifices on Easter holidays.
The Christians believe Jesus resurrected on Easter, the traditionalists also believe that a dead person can resurrect and posses a living person.
The Christians believe the spirits of the resurrected Christ lives in them and the traditionalists believe that the spirit of the dead resurrects and live in a living person.
People take advantage of the Easter holiday and have their lobola-paying and wedding ceremonies.
Christians go to churches and worship on this holiday while those of traditional beliefs go to shrines and sacred places.
Christians partake in pasca in remembrance of the blood of Jesus Christ which is written in the Bible that Christians should continue doing it. Possessed traditionalists drink cow or goat blood known as “musiya”.
The most interesting point is that both religions slaughter animals for sacrifice during Easter.
