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Alice Lenshina: Difference between revisions
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At first the Lumpa Church was close to the main Black organization fighting for independence, the Northern Rhodesia [[African National Congress]] (ANC). However, when Kenneth Kaunda left the ANC in 1958 and formed the more militant [[United National Independence Party]] (UNIP) there arose a competition for members between the new church and the new party. Villages were split as Lumpa leaders ordered their members to establish separate villages by moving out of villages where they lived alongside UNIP's members. The conflict between UNIP and the Lumpa Church reached a climax in July to October in 1964, just before Northern Rhodesia's independence. On July 24, 1964 a gunbattle broke out between UNIP and Lumpa Church members. The resulting riots were only quelled by the intervention of State troops, and the proclamation of a state of emergency by the new pre-independence Prime Minister, Kenneth Kaunda. About a thousand people died in the clashes between Lumpa Church adherents, UNIP's members and the security forces. Approximately 15,000 Lumpa Church members fled and took refuge in Congo; some of them never returned to Zambia. The Lumpa Church was banned on 3 August 1964 and Lenshina surrendered to police a few days later.<ref>[http://www.britishempire.co.uk/article/alicelenshinalumpa.htm Alice Lenshina and her Lumpa Church, John Hannah]</ref> | At first the Lumpa Church was close to the main Black organization fighting for independence, the Northern Rhodesia [[African National Congress]] (ANC). However, when Kenneth Kaunda left the ANC in 1958 and formed the more militant [[United National Independence Party]] (UNIP) there arose a competition for members between the new church and the new party. Villages were split as Lumpa leaders ordered their members to establish separate villages by moving out of villages where they lived alongside UNIP's members. The conflict between UNIP and the Lumpa Church reached a climax in July to October in 1964, just before Northern Rhodesia's independence. On July 24, 1964 a gunbattle broke out between UNIP and Lumpa Church members. The resulting riots were only quelled by the intervention of State troops, and the proclamation of a state of emergency by the new pre-independence Prime Minister, Kenneth Kaunda. About a thousand people died in the clashes between Lumpa Church adherents, UNIP's members and the security forces. Approximately 15,000 Lumpa Church members fled and took refuge in Congo; some of them never returned to Zambia. The Lumpa Church was banned on 3 August 1964 and Lenshina surrendered to police a few days later.<ref>[http://www.britishempire.co.uk/article/alicelenshinalumpa.htm Alice Lenshina and her Lumpa Church, John Hannah]</ref> | ||
== | ==1964–1978== | ||
Alice Lenshina herself played no significant role in the Lumpa Church's political activities. She regretted the fact that the political actions weakened the religious impact of her message, which stressed the sanctity of marriage, opposed both polygamy and traditional African folk magic and promoted the upliftment of common people, especially women. | Alice Lenshina herself played no significant role in the Lumpa Church's political activities. She regretted the fact that the political actions weakened the religious impact of her message, which stressed the sanctity of marriage, opposed both polygamy and traditional African folk magic and promoted the upliftment of common people, especially women. | ||
[[File:Nkunda Rd, Chilenje.png|200px|thumbnail|right|Nkunda Rd in Chilenje]] | [[File:Nkunda Rd, Chilenje.png|200px|thumbnail|right|Nkunda Rd in Chilenje]] | ||
Lenshina never faced a trial but was detained by Kenneth Kaunda in [[Mumbwa District]], beginning in August 1964. Her husband, [[Petros Chintankwa]] (who died in 1972), was detained with her. In 1965 they were moved to [[Kalabo District]], near the Angolan border, but they escaped in October 1967. They were caught, jailed for 6 months and restricted in [[Mkushi District]]. In May 1970 Kaunda placed her in detention and ordered the destruction of her temple church in her home village of Kasomo. Finally she was released from detention in December 1975 but was put under house arrest in [[Lusaka]]'s New [[Chilenje]] compound | Lenshina never faced a trial but was detained by Kenneth Kaunda in [[Mumbwa District]], beginning in August 1964. Her husband, [[Petros Chintankwa]] (who died in 1972), was detained with her. In 1965 they were moved to [[Kalabo District]], near the Angolan border, but they escaped in October 1967. They were caught, jailed for 6 months and restricted in [[Mkushi District]]. In May 1970 Kaunda placed her in detention and ordered the destruction of her temple church in her home village of Kasomo. Finally she was released from detention in December 1975 but was put under house arrest in [[Lusaka]]'s New [[Chilenje]] compound along Nkunda Road. | ||
==Personal life== | ==Personal life== | ||
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==Death== | ==Death== | ||
[[File:Alice Lenshina - Burial site.jpg|200px|thumbnail|right|Burial site of Lenshina at the destroyed church, Zion, which her followers built.]] | [[File:Alice Lenshina - Burial site.jpg|200px|thumbnail|right|Burial site of Lenshina at the destroyed church, Zion, which her followers built.]] | ||
Lenshina died on 7 December 1978 while under house arrest and was eventually buried at Kasomo village where the Kamutola Church stood. | Lenshina died on 7 December 1978 while under house arrest and was eventually buried at [[Kasomo village]] where the [[Kamutola Church]] stood. | ||
==Aftermath== | ==Aftermath== | ||
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Mfula said the problem intensified to such an extent that in October, 1963 a combined team of UNIP and government forces attacked Chitambo Village where many lives and properties were lost. “In addition the following Lumpa villages were attacked; Bulanda, Lulumbi, Kameko, Chapaula, Shacepa, Chilanga, Sione HQ, Chasosa, Chipoma, Ishuko, Itonta, Chakosa and Isumba Village,” Mfula said. “In these villages, thousands of people died and their bodies were buried in mass graves.” She said these are some of the things that led to the banning of the Lumpa Church by the government on August 3, 1964. | Mfula said the problem intensified to such an extent that in October, 1963 a combined team of UNIP and government forces attacked Chitambo Village where many lives and properties were lost. “In addition the following Lumpa villages were attacked; Bulanda, Lulumbi, Kameko, Chapaula, Shacepa, Chilanga, Sione HQ, Chasosa, Chipoma, Ishuko, Itonta, Chakosa and Isumba Village,” Mfula said. “In these villages, thousands of people died and their bodies were buried in mass graves.” She said these are some of the things that led to the banning of the Lumpa Church by the government on August 3, 1964. | ||
"Before Lumpa Church (Sione) headquarters was attacked by the government forces in 1963, Lenshina had already escaped the place for Chilungululu Mountains in Kasama district where she hid in a dense thicket on an anthill,” Mfula said. “The government troops came in large numbers, armed with sophisticated weapons and opened fire on innocent and harmless people. They threw grenades into the church building killing women and children who had taken refuge. The church building (Kamutola) was partially damaged.” Mfula said the security forces used graders to clear the area, which was littered with bodies and one mass grave was dug at Chinsali. “This grave was filled to capacity and some bodies remained uncollected in the bush,” she said. “There could be more mass graves in Northern Province than people know of because bodies of Lumpa members were usually buried away from operational areas.”<ref name=economist/> | |||
==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
