Resurgence of Agikuyu cultural practices and their influence on the Anglican worship in Murang’a County, Kenya.
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Date
2024-11
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
Resurgence of Agikuyu traditional religious and cultural practices in Central Kenya was unexpected. The same community that has embraced Christianity for over a hundred years is going back to the practices they discarded. Christianity reached the Agikuyu at Kabete in 1900 with the CMS missionaries headed by Rev. Macgregor and have since registered great success. This achievement is now at risk. The purpose of this study was to investigate the causes of the resurgence of traditional religious and cultural practices among Christians in Murang’a County, Kenya and their effects on Anglican worship. The statement of the problem therefore focused on the strife caused by this resurgence between Africanist Anglicans and conservative Anglicans in Murang’a County. The objectives of the study were to investigate the causes of the resurgence of Agikuyu cultural practices, to evaluate worship challenges posed by resurgence, to assess whether the practices conflict the Anglican Church dogma and to determine whether some of the Cultural practices can be incorporated in the Anglican Worship. It was important to conduct this study because the gains of over a hundred years of evangelization among the Agikuyu are at risk and if effective mitigation steps are not taken, it will create room for syncretism. This study will inform religious leaders, academicians and the society on proactive and reactive measures to apply on the growing resurgence of traditional African cultural practices among Christians. The review of literature related to the problem of the study revealed that no detailed research had been carried out on the resurgence of Agikuyu traditional religious and cultural practices in Murang’a County. The study was guided by two theories; the power-knowledge theory by V. Y. Mudimbe and the Christ and Culture theory by H.R. Niebuhr. Descriptive survey design was used for the study, questionnaire, observation guide and interview guide were the main instruments for data collection. The target population was all the ACK members in Murang’a county. A sample of 267 participants was selected through probability and non-probability sampling. The research identified identity crises, socio-economic challenges, desire for religio-cultural knowledge, media, nationalism, desire for men to reassert their supremacy in the society, laxity in the Anglican church as some of the major causes of the resurgence of the Agikuyu cultural practices. Suspicion among worshippers, enfeebling of Christian faith on the blood of Christ and the shying away from testifying are some of the worship challenges brought about by the resurgence. Animal sacrifices, veneration of the ancestors, polygamy, wife inheritance, traditional marriage processes, use of traditional wine for blessings, traditional forms of worship in shrines facing Mount Kenya are some of the Agikuyu cultural practices that have resurged. Fear and respect of God, prayer, love for family, circumcision and marriage are cultural practices that do not contradict the Anglican Church dogma. Resultant data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and research findings presented in tables and charts with explanations
Description
A thesis submitted to the school of law, arts & social sciences in fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of doctor of philosophy (Religion) of Kenyatta University, November 2024
Supervisors
Prof. Michael T. Katola
Dr. Humphrey M. Waweru