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Alice Lenshina: Difference between revisions
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{{Featured article}} | |||
{{Infobox person | {{Infobox person | ||
| name = Alice Lenshina | | name = Alice Lenshina | ||
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| birth_place = [[Kasama]], [[Northern Rhodesia]] | | birth_place = [[Kasama]], [[Northern Rhodesia]] | ||
| death_date = {{nowrap| {{death date and age|1978|12|07|1920}} }} | | death_date = {{nowrap| {{death date and age|1978|12|07|1920}} }} | ||
| death_place = New Chilenje | | death_place = [[New Chilenje Compound]], [[Lusaka]] | ||
| nationality = Zambian | | nationality = Zambian | ||
| | | spouse = [[Petros Chintankwa]] (d 1972) | ||
| known_for = [[Lumpa Church]] | | known_for = [[Lumpa Church]] | ||
| occupation = Leader of a religious sect | | occupation = Leader of a religious sect | ||
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==Origins== | ==Origins== | ||
She was born Alice Mulenga Lubusha in 1920 in the Chinsali district of the northern province of Northern Rhodesia. Alice was her baptismal name, while Mulenga was her traditional African name. The name "Lenshina" was a [[Bemba language|Bemba]] form of the Latin word "regina" ("queen"). | She was born Alice Mulenga Lubusha in 1920 in the [[Chinsali district]] of the northern province of Northern Rhodesia. Alice was her baptismal name, while Mulenga was her traditional African name. The name "Lenshina" was a [[Bemba language|Bemba]] form of the Latin word "regina" ("queen"). | ||
Situated in a remote part of Northern Rhodesia, Chinsali district was a battleground for two competing Christian missions: the Roman Catholic Missionaries of Africa (the "White Fathers"), based at Llondola from 1934, and the United Free Church of Scotland, based at Lubwa from 1905. One of the Lubwa missionaries was David Kaunda, father of Kenneth Kaunda who became the first president of [[Zambia]] and who was a firm opponent of the Lumpa sect. | Situated in a remote part of Northern Rhodesia, Chinsali district was a battleground for two competing Christian missions: the Roman Catholic Missionaries of Africa (the "White Fathers"), based at Llondola from 1934, and the United Free Church of Scotland, based at Lubwa from 1905. One of the Lubwa missionaries was David Kaunda, father of Kenneth Kaunda who became the first president of [[Zambia]] and who was a firm opponent of the Lumpa sect. | ||
==1953–1955== | ==1953–1955== | ||
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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== | |||
Lenshina was married twice; to [[Gibson Nkwale]] with whom she had her first child. After her husband died, she got married to [[Petros Chintankwa]], a cousin of her first husband, who adopted her.<ref name=economist>[http://www.zambian-economist.com/2008/05/quote-of-week-mwala-kalaluka.html Retracing Lenshina's Followers by Mwala Kalaluka]</ref> | |||
==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== | ||
The Lumpa Church continues to exist to this day, though it is split and called by various names, the most prominent of which are Uluse Kamutola Church, whose headquarters are in [[Kapiri Mposhi]] and its membership ranges from 3,000 to 4,000 and is headed by one of Lenshina’s former personal assistants, [[Maggie Kasungami Mfula]] (the overseer). Mfula has shepherded her group from as far back as the early 70s when they had been in exile in the Congo DRC. Others include the Jerusalem Church, under Bubile (Daughter to Lenshina) and New Jerusalem Church, under Nkaya, in [[Kitwe]]'s [[Chimwemwe Township]]. | The Lumpa Church continues to exist to this day, though it is split and called by various names, the most prominent of which are [[Uluse Kamutola Church]], whose headquarters are in [[Kapiri Mposhi]] and its membership ranges from 3,000 to 4,000 and is headed by one of Lenshina’s former personal assistants, [[Maggie Kasungami Mfula]] (the overseer). Mfula has shepherded her group from as far back as the early 70s when they had been in exile in the Congo DRC. Others include the [[Jerusalem Church]], under Bubile (Daughter to Lenshina) and [[New Jerusalem Church]], under Nkaya, in [[Kitwe]]'s [[Chimwemwe Township]]. | ||
==Further narration== | ==Further narration== | ||
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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== | ||
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*[http://www.dacb.org/stories/zambia/lenshina1_alice.html Biography of A. Lenshina], Dictionary of African Christian Biography | *[http://www.dacb.org/stories/zambia/lenshina1_alice.html Biography of A. Lenshina], Dictionary of African Christian Biography | ||
*[http://www.geocities.com/maiddie/lenshina.html Famous Zambians – Alice Lenshina] ([http://www.webcitation.org/5kmXAjnXS Archived] 2009-10-25) | *[http://www.geocities.com/maiddie/lenshina.html Famous Zambians – Alice Lenshina] ([http://www.webcitation.org/5kmXAjnXS Archived] 2009-10-25) | ||
*[https://tumfweko.com/2012/09/04/time-to-honour-alice-lenshina/ Time To Honour Alice Lenshina, 4 September 2012] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | |||
[[Category:1919 births]] | [[Category:1919 births]] | ||
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[[Category:Founders of religious movements]] | [[Category:Founders of religious movements]] | ||
[[Category:Zambian Christian religious leaders]] | [[Category:Zambian Christian religious leaders]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:People of Zambia]] | ||
