Karanga-Shona Rural Women's Agency in Dressing Mother Earth: a contribution towards an indigenous eco-feminist theology

This essay is dedicated to the blessed memory of my mentor Steve de Gruchy who was passionate about theological reflections on women's agency in fundamental issues of existence. It discusses the key challenge of ecological degradation confronting the Zimbabwean community at large, with a partic...

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Main Author: Chirongoma, Sophia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: 2016
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Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11408/1417
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author Chirongoma, Sophia
author_facet Chirongoma, Sophia
author_sort Chirongoma, Sophia
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description This essay is dedicated to the blessed memory of my mentor Steve de Gruchy who was passionate about theological reflections on women's agency in fundamental issues of existence. It discusses the key challenge of ecological degradation confronting the Zimbabwean community at large, with a particular focus on rural communities, particularly the rural women. The essay foregrounds the gendered impact of ecological degradation, highlighting that being on the periphery, women suffer most from the negative impact of ecological degradation." It explores and applauds the role of grassroots women in ecological preservation and conservation with special focus on the work of the Karanga-Shona in Murinve, Masvingo in Zimbabwe. The paper discusses the significant role of local and communal religio-ecological beliefs in responding to ecological challenges. Special reference is made to the way in which two faith communities. Karanga indigenous religion as represented by the Association of Zimbabwean Traditional Ecologists (AZTREC), and the Christian community, particularly the African Independent Churches (AICs) under the banner of the Association of African Earthkeeping Churches (AAEC), were inspired to come up with a vibrant, vital and effective eco-theology. The Karanga-Shona indigenous ecologists (AZTREC) came up with the mafukidzanyika (earth-clothing) ministry and AAEC also coined the equivalent maporesanyika (earthhealing) ministry. It is women who stand out in this ecological ministry because they have been ascribed the role of mothering, preserving and nurturing mother-earth which is the main source of their livelihood. They are the providers. vessels and channel of life, hence ecological destruction impacts more heavily on women than anyone else.
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spelling ir-11408-14172022-06-27T13:49:07Z Karanga-Shona Rural Women's Agency in Dressing Mother Earth: a contribution towards an indigenous eco-feminist theology Chirongoma, Sophia Indigenous eco-feminist theology. This essay is dedicated to the blessed memory of my mentor Steve de Gruchy who was passionate about theological reflections on women's agency in fundamental issues of existence. It discusses the key challenge of ecological degradation confronting the Zimbabwean community at large, with a particular focus on rural communities, particularly the rural women. The essay foregrounds the gendered impact of ecological degradation, highlighting that being on the periphery, women suffer most from the negative impact of ecological degradation." It explores and applauds the role of grassroots women in ecological preservation and conservation with special focus on the work of the Karanga-Shona in Murinve, Masvingo in Zimbabwe. The paper discusses the significant role of local and communal religio-ecological beliefs in responding to ecological challenges. Special reference is made to the way in which two faith communities. Karanga indigenous religion as represented by the Association of Zimbabwean Traditional Ecologists (AZTREC), and the Christian community, particularly the African Independent Churches (AICs) under the banner of the Association of African Earthkeeping Churches (AAEC), were inspired to come up with a vibrant, vital and effective eco-theology. The Karanga-Shona indigenous ecologists (AZTREC) came up with the mafukidzanyika (earth-clothing) ministry and AAEC also coined the equivalent maporesanyika (earthhealing) ministry. It is women who stand out in this ecological ministry because they have been ascribed the role of mothering, preserving and nurturing mother-earth which is the main source of their livelihood. They are the providers. vessels and channel of life, hence ecological destruction impacts more heavily on women than anyone else. 2016-05-19T13:41:01Z 2016-05-19T13:41:01Z 2012-03 Article http://hdl.handle.net/11408/1417 en Journal of Theology for Southern .Africa;No.142; p.120-144. open
spellingShingle Indigenous eco-feminist theology.
Chirongoma, Sophia
Karanga-Shona Rural Women's Agency in Dressing Mother Earth: a contribution towards an indigenous eco-feminist theology
title Karanga-Shona Rural Women's Agency in Dressing Mother Earth: a contribution towards an indigenous eco-feminist theology
title_full Karanga-Shona Rural Women's Agency in Dressing Mother Earth: a contribution towards an indigenous eco-feminist theology
title_fullStr Karanga-Shona Rural Women's Agency in Dressing Mother Earth: a contribution towards an indigenous eco-feminist theology
title_full_unstemmed Karanga-Shona Rural Women's Agency in Dressing Mother Earth: a contribution towards an indigenous eco-feminist theology
title_short Karanga-Shona Rural Women's Agency in Dressing Mother Earth: a contribution towards an indigenous eco-feminist theology
title_sort karanga-shona rural women's agency in dressing mother earth: a contribution towards an indigenous eco-feminist theology
topic Indigenous eco-feminist theology.
url http://hdl.handle.net/11408/1417
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