A Maasai Encounter with the Bible: Nomadic Lifestyle as a Hermeneutic Question PDF
Preview A Maasai Encounter with the Bible: Nomadic Lifestyle as a Hermeneutic Question
30 this book is a critical analysis of how Maasai informants read some selected Old testament texts that are thought to have an appeal to people with semi/ A nomadic ways of life. the Maasai is a nilotic ethnic group of semi/nomadic M w pastoralists living in the northern tanzania, and southern Kenya, east africa. i A t A h s the book focuses on the parallels between the Maasai and biblical concepts of A t i A M E nomadic lifestyle. On the one hand, the semi/nomadic heritage of the Maasai hE E AAsAi ncountEr n B faces severe cultural and political difficulties when encountering east african c i o B B with thE iBlE l u modern ways of life. On the other, the ancient Israel actually experienced the E n t opposite, seeing a strengthening of semi/nomadic ways of life. therefore, the E r book demonstrates the potentials of the supposed parallels between the two by allowing the experiences of the ancient Israel to contribute to strengthen the Nomadic Lifestyle semi/nomadic ways of life, a key aspect of traditional Maasai values into the a s as a Hermeneutic Question a contemporary east african context. HN eo rm m a ed neic u L tic Qifes t uy Z s n ele E p h A n i A h i l A k E s E l A s t io n Zephania Shila Nkesela is general Secretary of Cen- tral Diocese, evangelical Lutheran Church in tanza- Z E nia. the present work is a revised version of his PhD ph A n thesis at VID Specialized University, Stavanger, nor- iA s way, where he was part of VID’s Maasai/Bible Project. h il A n k E s E l A P e t e r L a n g www.peterlang.com 9781433173684_cvr_eu.indd All Pages 16-Sep-20 22:07:23 30 this book is a critical analysis of how Maasai informants read some selected Old testament texts that are thought to have an appeal to people with semi/ A nomadic ways of life. the Maasai is a nilotic ethnic group of semi/nomadic M w pastoralists living in the northern tanzania, and southern Kenya, east africa. i A t A h s the book focuses on the parallels between the Maasai and biblical concepts of A t i A M E nomadic lifestyle. On the one hand, the semi/nomadic heritage of the Maasai hE E AAsAi ncountEr n B faces severe cultural and political difficulties when encountering east african c i o B B with thE iBlE l u modern ways of life. On the other, the ancient Israel actually experienced the E n t opposite, seeing a strengthening of semi/nomadic ways of life. therefore, the E r book demonstrates the potentials of the supposed parallels between the two by allowing the experiences of the ancient Israel to contribute to strengthen the Nomadic Lifestyle semi/nomadic ways of life, a key aspect of traditional Maasai values into the a s as a Hermeneutic Question a contemporary east african context. HN eo rm m a ed neic u L tic Qifes t uy Z s n ele E p h A n i A h i l A k E s E l A s t io n Zephania Shila Nkesela is general Secretary of Cen- tral Diocese, evangelical Lutheran Church in tanza- Z E nia. the present work is a revised version of his PhD ph A n thesis at VID Specialized University, Stavanger, nor- iA s way, where he was part of VID’s Maasai/Bible Project. h il A n k E s E l A P e t e r L a n g www.peterlang.com 16-Sep-20 22:07:23 A Maasai Encounter with the Bible Bible & Theol ogy in Africa Knut Holter General Editor Vol. 30 The Bible & Theology in Africa series is part of the Peter Lang Humanities list. Every volume is peer reviewed and meets the highest quality standards for content and production. PETER LANG New York • Bern • Berlin Brussels • Vienna • Oxford • Warsaw Zephania Shila Nkesela A Maasai Encounter with the Bible Nomadic Lifestyle as a Hermeneutic Question PETER LANG New York • Bern • Berlin Brussels • Vienna • Oxford • Warsaw Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Control Number: 2020000331 Bibliographic information published by Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek. Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the “Deutsche Nationalbibliografie”; detailed bibliographic data are available on the Internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de/. ISSN 1525-9846 ISBN 978-1-4331-7368-4 (hardback) ISBN 978-1-4331-7373-8 (ebook pdf) ISBN 978-1-4331-7374-5 (epub) ISBN 978-1-4331-7375-2 (mobi) DOI 10.3726/b16114 © 2020 Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., New York 29 Broadway, 18th floor, New York, NY 10006 www.peterlang.com All rights reserved. Reprint or reproduction, even partially, in all forms such as microfilm, xerography, microfiche, microcard, and offset strictly prohibited. Table of Contents Acknowledgements vii Chapter One: Introduction 1 A Case from Maasai 1 Background and Context 3 Research Context 8 Research Question and Approach 12 Aim of the Study 13 Methodology 13 Ethical Considerations 14 Scope and Limitations 16 The Maasai 17 Partial Conclusion 27 Bibliography 32 Chapter Two: Theoretical Perspectives 37 Introduction 37 The Maasai Oral “Text” 37 Interpretive Context 39 Actors 48 vi | a maasai encounter with the bible Partial Conclusion 56 Bibliography 60 Chapter Three: Reading Old Testament Texts in Maasai Context 65 Introduction 65 Data Collection and Analysis 66 A Maasai Reading of Gen. 13:1–12 73 A Maasai Reading of Exod. 13:17–22 91 A Maasai Reading of Jer 35:5–10 100 Partial Conclusion 109 Bibliography 112 Chapter Four: Maasai Indigenous Readings in Dialogue with Critical Old Testament Studies: Reflections and Implications 113 Introduction 113 Methodological Consideration 113 Maasai Readings of Gen. 13:1–12 in Dialogue with Critical Old Testament Studies 115 Maasai Readings of Exod. 13:17–22 in Dialogue with Critical Old Testament Studies 137 Maasai Readings of Jer 35:5–10 in Dialogue with Critical Old Testament Studies 151 Partial Conclusion 157 Bibliography 164 Chapter Five: Maasai Experiences and Old Testament Studies in Africa 169 Introduction 169 Old Testament Studies in Africa 169 Contemporary Challenges of Old Testament Studies in Africa 177 My Maasai Project as a Contribution 185 Partial Conclusion 198 Bibliography 205 Chapter Six: Concluding Remarks 211 A Summary of Findings 211 A Response to my Research Question 213 A Case from Maasai: What Can Be Said to Meitamei 215 Bibliography 216 Appendices 219 Indexes 223 Acknowledgements One Haya (ethnic group in Tanzania) proverb goes “Many hands make light work.” I wish to extend my profound gratitude to all those who in different ways joined their hands with mine for the accomplishment of this work. A special thanks goes to VID Specialized University for designing the Maasai project and accepting me to be one of the researchers. Likewise, I am very grateful to the director of the project, my supervisor Professor Knut Holter. His criticisms, understanding, and encouragement throughout the three years of this project pushed me this far. My fellow Ph.D students, my fellow researchers in the project Dr. Hoyce Mbowe and Dr. Beth E. Elness-Hanson, and the whole staff provided not only support, but also an encouraging environment for me to accomplish this work. I also thank Professor Joseph Parsalaw, the Vice Chancellor of Tumaini Makumira University in Tanzania and all the staff for their collaboration with the Maasai project. The library at Makumira has provided resources that enrich this work. Thanks are due to my Maasai informants for not only being ready in in-depth interviews, but also devoting their time to read biblical texts with me in groups. Thanks also to pastors who allowed me to conduct research in their parishes of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), North Central Diocese. I would have mentioned your names, but the research protocols do not allow. Equally, I acknowledge my Church, the ELCT Central Diocese with the leadership of Bishop Dr. Alex Seif Mkumbo, for permitting me to study abroad at viii | a maasai encounter with the bible the time when I was needed in my capacity as General Secretary of the Diocese. Mentioned last, but remembered most is my family. My wife Tumwitikege and our two children Paul and Rebeca were always praying and encouraging me to complete my studies. Though they stayed alone in Tanzania all three years, their psychological support kept me moving forward always. I am indebted to God Almighty and all of you extending your hands to help me. Thank you very much, Ashe Naleng, Tusen Takk, Asanteni Sana.
The list of books you might like
