Understanding Mwali as traditional supreme deity of the Bakalanga of Botswana and western Zimbabwe: part one; Mwali in historical and regional context: part two

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Periodical article

Title:	Understanding Mwali as traditional supreme deity of the Bakalanga of Botswana and western Zimbabwe: part one; Mwali in historical and regional context: part two
Author:	Rodewald, M.K.
Year:	2010
Periodical:	Botswana Notes and Records (ISSN 0525-5090)
Volume:	42
Pages:	11-21
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Botswana Zimbabwe
Subjects:	Kalanga deities African religions
External link:	https://www.jstor.org/stable/23237967
Abstract:	Just how Mwali as traditional deity fits into the spiritual cosmos of the Kalanga (also known as Western Shona, a grouping of ethnic identities in Botswana and Zimbabwe who speak similar languages today) has been debated by foreign missionaries, scholars and the Bakalanga themselves. Anthropological information and oral traditions are complicated not only by time, but also by differing yet often similar terms for languages, peoples, deities and high gods. Part one of the present article describes the relationship between Mwali and Kalanga with roots in the Matopos Hills of southwest Zimbabwe and as practised in western Zimbabwe and northeastern Botswana by the Kalanga-speaking people roughly over the last one and a half centuries. Part two looks at Mwali in the wider context of southern Africa and posits that the roots of worship of Mwali can be found in Israelite worship of Yahweh. Bibliogr., sum. [Journal abstract]