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Bible in Africa Studies by Rosinah Gabaitse

by BiAS Series, Joachim Kuegler, Rosinah Gabaitse, Blessing Nyahuma, Mark S Aidoo, Mavis Muguti, Menard Musendekwa, daniel nii aboagye aryeh, PhD, Kudzai Biri, Francis Machingura, and Josiah Ucheawaji

Bible in Africa Studies, 2019

Quickly changing concepts on gender roles are a pivotal issue in after-colonial African societies... more Quickly changing concepts on gender roles are a pivotal issue in after-colonial African societies. Many women (and men) are calling for a radical change as they feel traditional gender concepts as being oppressive, inhuman and un-Christian. Gender equality, gender fairness is on their agenda. On the other hand, for many men (and women) these societal changes are painful “gender troubles” and seem to be dangerous for gender-based identity, threatening traditional African values. Volume 22 of the BiAS series deals with this central topic by asking what gender troubles have to do with the Bible. Are biblical texts an obstacle for women’s liberation? Is the Bible a divine guaranty for male supremacy or rather an advocate for gender equality? What are “redemptive masculinities” and how do they relate to a new, truly Christian understanding of the role of women in church, society and state? – Scholars from different disciplines and several countries are dealing with these urgent questions to help scholars, students, pastors, politicians and members of Christian churches to find a way to more gender fairness and “gender joy”.

Papers by Rosinah Gabaitse

Global Social Welfare, 2019

Botswana has experienced rapid urbanisation and industrialisation since independence, with people... more Botswana has experienced rapid urbanisation and industrialisation since independence, with people moving from the rural to the urban areas consequently. The quality of family and peer relationships and the spirit of communityhood have also deteriorated significantly over the years. However, few studies have investigated how people forge or reproduce significant values from the rural areas/traditional practices in the urban space. This study investigated the Botho/Ubuntu-driven practices of building community in the urban space in the form of Naomi and Laban, bridal and baby showers in Gaborone. Showers are gendered celebrations organised by women for a mother or father who will either receive a daughter or a son-in-law or for a woman who is engaged to be married or one who is about to become a mother, respectively. The study combined both quantitative and qualitative methods of inquiry. The study first carried out secondary desktop analysis and, second, conducted fieldwork-based research. Themes such as social networks, social norms of mutuality, reciprocity, social support, collective efficacy, informal social control, mutual trust, empathy and reciprocity appeared in the study. Results show that participation in the showers could bring satisfaction, improved social relations, an increased sense of control and empowerment.

Pula: Botswana Journal of African Studies, 2005

Following the conference on "Bible and Practice" held at Bamberg, Germany, in 2009, the idea of d... more Following the conference on "Bible and Practice" held at Bamberg, Germany, in 2009, the idea of dedicating a volume to the same theme but with special focus on Africa was born. And the result was not only a book, (BiAS 4) 1 , but a series of meetings also. Since then the University of Bamberg, on the initiative of the Chair for New Testament Studies, holds a biannual conference on Bible in Africa Studies. This conference is jointly organized with colleagues in the fields of Theology and Biblical Studies, and other related fields in Africa. The conference has the aim of deliberating on pressing issues in the world and, more particularly, in Africa. The initiative started with the first meeting, held in Germany in 2010 at the imposing Kloster Banz (cf. BiAS 7), with the second held in Gaborone, Botswana, in 2012 (cf. BiAS 17) and the third, structured according to the regulations of a Humboldt-Kolleg, held in Windhoek, Namibia, in 2014 (cf. BiAS 20). At Windhoek, those who attended the conference on religious, social, and political issues relating to The Bible and Violence in Africa decided by a clear majority that the next BiAS-meeting should deal with The Bible and Gender Troubles in Africa. Regarding the location, the majority favored the idea that the conference of 2016 should be held at the University of Zimbabwe in Harare. It was especially Dr Obvious Vengeyi, who shouldered the burden of organizing all the necessities for the meeting. Everyone who knows somewhat about the socioeconomic challenges experienced by Zimbabwe under the reign of the "the other son of God" during the agony of his last years, will understand that preparing an international conference under these circumstances did not mean less than what Germans call a "Herkulesaufgabe" (Herculean labour). At the end of the day we had a wonderful meeting at the University of Zimbabwe, superbly organized by our hosts at Harare. We cannot thank Pro-1 All the volumes of BiAS series are listed at the very end of this volume. 4 The Odes of Solomon are Christian songs from the 2 nd-3 rd century CE. Several times the odes mention divine milk given by God (Father or Son),

AFRICAN JOURNAL OF GENDER AND RELIGION, 2018

Genders, Sexualities, and Spiritualities in African Pentecostalism, 2020

This study explores the paradox of Botswana Pentecostal masculinities. It demonstrates how the do... more This study explores the paradox of Botswana Pentecostal masculinities. It demonstrates how the doctrines of born again, new creation and the Holy Spirit construct distinct Pentecostal masculinities characterized by mutuality and egalitarian existence and simultaneously Pentecostal hermeneutics is entrenched in patriarchy and therefore encourages the performance of hegemonic masculinities.

Religion in Gender-Based Violence, Immigration, and Human Rights, 2019

Nokuthela Linderely Dube, one of the first black women to qualify as a teacher, author of the fir... more Nokuthela Linderely Dube, one of the first black women to qualify as a teacher, author of the first Zulu songbook and wife to John Langalibalele, the first president of the African National Congress, is a significant figure whose memory has been buried in history. She represents the first generation of African women who pioneered women’s struggle against cultural, racial and political oppression. She attributed her opposition to forms of oppression to have been a result of being raised in the church and growing up in a mission station. In spite of her outstanding contribution to the education of Africans and her support to the work of the ANC and the church, she remains unknown by many South Africans. This article seeks to examine her legacy and to contribute to it. The aim is to bring forth lessons gleaned from her legacy that can be used in a democratic South Africa, where women continue to struggle for a culture of gender equality to be fully inculcated at all levels of society. Woman has from time immemorial been looked upon as inferior to man, and in order to destroy this mischievous idea we desire to have girls as regular boarders and to give them work with the young Zulu men and boys. The latter will then get an idea of the intellectual strength of womankind and lose his erroneous ideas of his own mental superiority. We cannot hope to raise the Zulu men to any very high standard unless we show them that they are not superior to the women.

Theology, Mission and Child

Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae (SHE), 2015

In this paper I seek to interrogate how the theology of some Pentecostal churches, especially the... more In this paper I seek to interrogate how the theology of some Pentecostal churches, especially the theology that God heals HIV and AIDS, interacts with the situation of cross-border migrants in Botswana.

Scholars of African Christianity have tended to celebrate African women purely as charismatic fou... more Scholars of African Christianity have tended to celebrate African women purely as charismatic founders of movements. Alternatively, they focus on African women's active participation in church life. Rarely have young African Christian women been acknowledged for their academic achievements and leadership in addressing contemporary issues that affect the continent. This article examines Musa W Dube of Botswana's contribution to the African Church's response to HIV and AIDS. The first part provides the historical background relevant for appreciating Dube's work. The second part examines Dube's activism in encouraging an effective religious response to HIV and AIDS in Africa. The third part reviews Dube's contribution to the integration of HIV and AIDS in theology and religious studies in Africa. The fourth section provides an overview of critiques of Dube's HIV and AIDS work. Overall, the article acknowledges Dube's leadership in the church's response to the HIV epidemic in Africa and beyond.

Scriptura, 2015

The Pentecostal movement remains one of ambivalence, tensions and paradoxes. On the surface, wors... more The Pentecostal movement remains one of ambivalence, tensions and paradoxes. On the surface, worship and practice appear democratic, yet research shows that women and men do not occupy the same status because the movement endorses male dominance and submission of women to men. While there is a sense that men and women are equal because both can receive the Spirit, women still remain in the margins. Sometimes women are affirmed and accepted because of the emancipatory role of the Spirit, but at other times they are marginalised through oppressive interpretative practices of the Bible. Although women are given voice, especially because of the belief within Pentecostal churches that the Holy Spirit speaks through men and women, the same voice is taken away when women are subordinated to male power. As such the Pentecostal space is ambivalent, although women are not completely silenced, they occupy a subordinate position. In this article I seek to demonstrate that the marginalisation of Pentecostal women is due to a considerable extent to the ways in which the Bible is read and interpreted within the Pentecostal tradition. I seek to demonstrate that there is a link between the marginalisation of women and Pentecostal hermeneutical strategies such as literal readings and prooftexting of the Bible. I will also highlight how the interpretation of the Trinity is also implicated in the marginalisation of women. In the final section of the article I will demonstrate how Pentecostals' openness to the work of the Holy Spirit should be a destabilising principle for all Pentecostals' oppressive activities, especially Pentecostal hermeneutics which tends to favour men over and above women.