Century old African Cult religion draws thousands*

Its blend of the traditional African Mysticism/witchcraft and modern New
Age practices provides succor in a region burdened by chronic poverty,
unemployment and disease, especially high levels of HIV/AIDS, and keeps
alive age-old cultural values important to many old-fashioned rural
dwellers.

By Sarah McGregor
Reuters
Tuesday, October 31, 2006; 8:41 AM

JUDEA, South Africa (Reuters) - Businessman Enoch Mthembu was born a
Nazareth Baptist, but became a true believer after its charismatic
prophet helped him win a multi-million-dollar contract.

"I went to Shembe to ask that he help me win a contract to supply
forklifts to South African ports, competing with big companies. I got
the 60 million rand contract against tough odds," beams Mthembu, of
Durban, a city on the east coast of South Africa. "Shembe shows
practical results."

Mbusi Vimbeni Shembe is the fourth successor of Isaiah Shembe, a Zulu
healer who formed the Nazareth Baptist church cult a century ago to
infuse African tribalism into the Christianity brought over by Western
missionaries.

Legends of his miraculous touch have drawn four million followers across
southern Africa who believe Shembe is a messiah and Africa's equivalent
to Jesus, making it one of the largest independent church movements in
Africa with some 7,000 temples.

Its blend of the traditional African Mysticism/witchcraft and modern New
Age practices provides succor in a region burdened by chronic poverty,
unemployment and disease, especially high levels of HIV/AIDS, and keeps
alive age-old cultural values important to many old-fashioned rural
dwellers.

Every year tens of thousands of pilgrims from as far as Mozambique and
Malawi stream to the holy land of Judea in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal
province, to pray and stock up on sacred and mystic tubs of Vaseline or
fill plastic Coke bottles with so-called Holy Water.

Benedict Thwala, 32, had been unemployed for a year when he knelt before
Shembe to beg for a stroke of good luck and five days later found a
steady job with a telephone service provider.

"I was desperate at that point," said Thwala. "Now I go to him when I
need something and give small offerings like money or food for the poor.
I find that I always get back."

Worshipper Mike Ntuli said petroleum jelly was chosen for its purity and
because the clear gel is easy to apply on the body as he licks his hand
to demonstrate how he ingests the gel blessed by Shembe for its healing
power.

"I rub it on my back if it aches ... It gives people hope, like medicine
but stronger because it is made holy."

'AFRICA FOR AFRICANS'

The annual Shembe cult celebration that runs the entire month of October
is a large undertaking. Almost overnight, several kilometers of barren
land become a bustling shantytown.

People hoping to make money hawk religious memorabilia bearing images of
its four generations of leaders and a popular badge that reads, 'Shembe
is the Way'.

Others sell Zulu traditional attire like animal skins or warrior dress.
The Shembe church receives some proceeds from sales in the informal
marketplace, which also offers food.

Worshippers cram into makeshift tent shelters or sleep in their cars.
During the daytime, they socialize or prepare food in the sweltering
summer heat.

A strict code of conduct prohibits sex, alcohol or smoking and unmarried
women must cover their heads during prayer to shield them from the
wandering eyes of men.

Worshippers are barefoot  and wear flowing white gowns accessorized with
African fur headpieces and colorful bead bracelets.

They roll out straw mats for an outdoor prayer service led by Shembe
whose voice is amplified over loud speakers so it can be heard by those
seated hundreds of rows back from the altar.

"People come with their different troubles and problems to get healed,"
said Muzi Mthethwa, an evangelist with a local Nazareth Baptist church.
"We find it very rewarding."

Many residents in the nearby city of Eshowe are unaware that a makeshift
Shembe village four times its population is tucked in the hills 15 km (9
miles) away.

Leaders in the religious sect say they prefer it that way but welcome
newcomers, especially the sick and poor, in need of divine intervention
or eager to turn their life around.

"Shembe is the prophet of Africa for Africans," said Chancey Sibisi,
secretary general of the church. "The white colonial government in
apartheid did not think a church established by black person could last
but we are here to stay."