Esotericism in Botswana
Agnieszka Podolecka, Leslie S. Nthoi
Aries December 6, 2021 DOI: 10.1163/15700593-20211008 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 2 |
| Key points | Argues that "esotericism" can usefully be applied to Southern African religious currents, proposing that initiation-based knowledge systems constitute "indigenous esotericism," that colonial rejection of these practices parallels Europe's construction of "rejected knowledge" and led to their resurfacing within Southern African Christianity, and that imported "western" esoteric currents now enter into dialogue with indigenous forms. |
Abstract
Abstract The article argues that “esotericism” can usefully be applied to a number of religious currents in Southern Africa. With a focus on Botswana, we survey a range of practices, from traditional “shamanic” healing to Pentecostal NRM s to New Age spiritualities and neoshamanism, some presented here for the first time. The term esotericism is useful for analysing the religious situation in Southern African contexts for three reasons. First, through a typological understanding of esotericism as initiation-based knowledge systems, we define one part of the landscape (usually termed “shamanism”) as constituting a form of “indigenous esotericism”. Second, through the European colonial expansion, this indigenous esotericism faced a violent rejection campaign that parallels the construction of “rejected knowledge” in Europe. While this forced many practices underground, they have resurfaced within Southern African Christianity. Third, “western” esoteric currents have recently been imported to Southern Africa and enter into dialogues with the “indigenous” forms.