African Studies Thesaurus
Lumpa Church
Search catalogue
294922989
STA
Approved
UPD
2012-03-23
DUT
Lumpa kerk
IND
3
MIS
Alice Lenshina Mulenga (ca. 1919 - 1978) was born in Kasomo, Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), and was baptised as a member of the Presbyterian Church. After a near-death experience, she believed she had a special mission. In her preaching and prophesying, she emphasised the sanctity of marriage and home and she was bitterly opposed to polygamy and traditional African sorcery. In 1955 she started her own separate congregation, known as the Lumpa (‘excelling’) Church. They believed that the End was at hand, and conflict soon arose with the local chiefs since the adherents of the new sect wanted to live separately and independently. During the skirmishes more than seven hundred people were killed, while Lenshina herself died in prison after eleven years of captivity. At its height, her movement is estimated to have attracted one hundred thousand people. The Church continued to exist underground after her death, but it is still repressed by the government of Zambia as a threat to law and security (Lenshina, Alice (c. 1919 - 1978). Who's Who in Christianity, Routledge. Retrieved 03 July 2003, at www.xreferplus.com/entry/762832)
PPN
294922989
UDC
289Lumpa
MRF
279.285Lumpa
BT1
African Independent Churches
BSO
06.02.01 CHRISTIAN CHURCHES AND DENOMINATIONS
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