The Concept of Death in Macua Community: Challenge of Inculturation

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Date
2002-02
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
The Macua look at the reality of death with certain "ambiguity" in the sense that they see it as a necessary step towards ancestorship. It is an essential, indispensable and definitive passage from the visible state of life (earthly) to the invisible. Death is not total destruction or annihilation of a person but through death one goes owani (home) or returns to Mount Namult. According to Macua understanding, death does not break the vital circle because a dead person still belongs to the family or clan. lie/she lives a full and real life, for with death the person acquires "supernatural" power and becomes an intermediary between Alvin/cu (God) and the living people. However, death constitutes a moment of great crisis in the family and in the society at large. And whenever death strikes in the family, people grieve, wail and mourn desperately. For this reason death is feared and fought against in order to safeguard life, which is the highest and most precious gift from God. Death creates disharmony and panic in the society. At the same time, the Macua are unanimous about the universality of death, that is to say that death is a universal phenomenon whereby it does not choose some and leave others. Some proverbs will help us to understand the mind and conviction of the Macua concerning the universality of death. Nakhwa nithavi na Muluku khuvo onihaleta which means death is (like) a hunting net of God, there is nobody who can escape it. In spite of this conviction that death is a universal phenomenon, the Macua still see it as something that occurs unexpectedly and without warning, as this proverb shows: Nakhwa khunleya, Dna mob) nawiye that is to say death is (like) a thief, it comes unexpectedly. This ambiguity created in me some interest that led me to research on this topic so as to try to grasp this mystery and seemingly contradictory attitudes. The questions that arise are, how can we as Christians explain the Christian understanding of death as a passage from this world (earth) to the heavenly kingdom of God? I low can the paschal mystery be relevant in the daily life of the Macua? How can we make a connection between the Macua understanding of hereafter and the Christian doctrine of resurrection?
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Concept of Death, Macua Community, Inculturation
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