Lamba-Lamba healer-diviners in Mbala District, Zambia: the intermingling of Christianity with African indigenous spiritual flair, 2021-2023

Abstract

This article aims to establish the relationship between Christianity and the Lamba-Lamba Healer-Diviners in Mbala District of Zambia. The study objectives were to find out the challenges experienced by Christians and healer-diviners, respectively, based on values and spiritual differences between them and establish what influence modernisation and socioeconomic changes have on the Healer-Diviners’ existence in the area. To explore these, the study used descriptive techniques of the qualitative strategy, where a Phenomenological Research Design served as the foundation for data collection. The research drew upon a sample of 28 participants who were selected using purposive and snowballing methods. In-depth interview techniques were applied to obtain the required primary data, which were analysed thematically. Findings: It was revealed that there was a relationship between Christians and Healer-diviners, as evidenced by some respondents who could not differentiate between being a Christian and consulting the traditional Healer-Diviners. Despite the services of traditional healer being cast in a negative light; viewed as embodiments of a disgraceful legacy equated to paganism, some sections of the Christian community welcomed the services of the traditional divers (Ng’anga) in the district and believed in their efficacy to cleanse the society of witchcraft. The changing socioeconomic life in society prompted by modernity greatly affected the Healer-diviners. Through propaganda, agents of modernity, mostly the mass media and the Church, campaigned against the presence of the Healer-diviners. The study recommends the need for community education on exploitative religious practices, strengthening partnerships between authorities and faith organisations, and context-specific culturally sensitive spiritual guidance.