Ever since the modern state of Malawi came into existence more than a hundred years Voices of Preachers V ago, religion has played its role in the o i c history of the country, and has interacted e s with politics and society in many ways, such o in Protest f as with the early Blantyre Mission, the P r e Chilembwe Rising, and the struggle against a Voices of Preachers c h the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyassaland. e The Ministry of Two Malawian Prophets: r This book presents two preachers, Elliot Kamwana and Wilfred s in Elliot Kamwana and Wilfred Gudu Gudu, who, in their different ways and at different times, in Protest P r The Ministry of Two Malawian Prophets: challenged British colonial power which ruled over Malawi at o t e that time. st Elliot Kamwana and Wilfred Gudu Dr Joseph Chaphadzika Chakanza is Associate Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, Chancellor College, University of Malawi. He studied Social Anthropology at Oxford University and has a special interest in New Religious Movements. He is founding editor of the journal Religion in Malawi. J . LC.Chakanza C . (cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:13)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:13)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:13)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:13)(cid:7) C h This book is part of Luviri Press a k which offers a range of books on a n religion, culture and society z Limuvirmi RJwe.Cp.r wCinhtsas knmaon. z1“1a? a from Malawi (cid:1) (cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:4) (cid:5)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:7) VVooiicceess ooff PPrreeaacchheerrss iinn PPrrootteesstt Voices of Preachers in Protest CCooppyyrriigghhtt 22001188 JJ..CC.. CChhaakkaannzzaa AAllll rriigghhttss rreesseerrvveedd.. 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AAllll ssuucchh aaddddiittiioonnss,, mmoossttllyy iinn ffoooottnnootteess,, aarree mmaarrkkeedd bbyy aann aasstteerriisskk ((**l)-. TThhee EEddiittoorrss Contents Introduction Part 1: From Preacherto Prophet: Elliot Kenan Kamwana and the Watch TowerMovement in Malawi, 1908-1956 12 (0 Early Life l4 (ii) First Ministry 16 (iii) The Watchtower Movement during Kamwana's Exile, 1909-1937 27 (W) Observations 36 (V) The Second Ministry 38 (vi) Assessment ofthe Impact ofKamwana's Ministry 43 (vii) Conclusion 53 Part 2: Wilfrid Gudu and the Ana aMulungu 55 (i) Introduction 58 (ii) Thyolo District in the 19305 59 (iii) Wilfrid Gudu and the Malamulo SDA Mission 63 (iv) Zionya Yehovah 65 (V) Wilfrid Gudu in Conflict: The Maize Garden Issue 69 (vi) Conscientious Objectors to Soil Conservation 77 (vii) Wilfrid Gudu and the Anaa Mulungu: A Critical Appraisal 82 Select Bibliography 97 Index 100 Series Editors' Preface The Kachere Series is an initiative of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Malawi. It aims to promote the emergence of a body of literature which will enable students and others to engage critically with religion in Malawi, its social impact and the theolog— ical questions which it raises. An important starting point lies with the pub- lication of essays and theses which until now have been inaccessible to all but the most dedicated specialist. It is also hoped, however, that the devel— opment of theological scholarship in Malawi will stimulate the writing of many new books. General Works with popular appeal can be published as Kachere Books. Documents and essays, which are of value as sources for the study of religion in Malawi, can be published as Kachere Texts. It is in the third branch of the series, known as Kachere Monographs, that full- length academic treatises are published. Only the fruits of sound primary research which meet rigorous academic standards will be accepted for pub— lication in this prestigious branch of the Series. The Editors intend the Monographs to contribute substantially to the growth of a body of know— ledge in the area of theology and religious studies in Malawi. As important resources for study related to this field, we are confident that they will come to be prized not only within Malawi but in every academic centre concerned with religion and society in Africa. This monograph addresses the issue of religious protest in Malawi by two founders of African Instituted Churches during the colonial period. Elliot Kenan Kamwana from Nkhata Bay in the North started as an emissaryof the Watch Tower Movement from South Africa in 1908 and later founded the Watchman Healing Mission in 1937. His criticism focussed upon the Livingstonia Mission and the colonial government. Wilfrid Gudu from Thyolo in the South, founded the Ana a Mulungu church in 1935. His grievances were also aimed against the colonial administrators and against the traditional rulers. The author has concentrated on their significant events, developments and experiences and attempts to place the movements and their founders in a larger framework by assessing their beliefs and impact so as to enlarge the appeal of the work. This study has made exten- sive use of primary sources not previously used by historians of Malawi and some not available in archives overseas. There is still much oral data untapped on these, and many other churches. It is hoped that this study will contribute to the growing knowledge and understanding of the role played by the African Instituted Churches in the social, political and religious transformation ofMalawi. We thank The Pew Charitable Trust for their assistance in financing this research, Dean Hans Blum for allowing us to reproduce the cover illus- tration and Celeste M. Geddes for producing the index and transforming the manuscript into camera ready copy. Kachere Series Editors Zomba, April 1998 List of Maps and Photographs Maps South-east Nkhata Bay and the Major Chieftaincies 42 Thyolo South 83 Photographs Elliot Kamwana andJoseph Booth in 1909 28 A teaplantation in Thyolo District 62 A maize gardenbeing washed away by torrential rain 71 Makwasain southernThyolo istoday aleadingbananagrowing area 79 Introduction The colonial context in Malawi within which nearly one hundred African Instituted Churches (AICs) originated, and David Barrett‘s thesis con- cerning the “failure in love" on the part of the mission churches, focus upon the AICs in terms of "reaction" This approach, fails to emphasize the positive and dynamic religious thrust which is intrinsic to these move- ments. In this case study of the ministry of two select Malawian "pro- phets", Elliot Kenan Kamwana and Wilfrid Gudu, I have tried to pay attention to their religious experiences as founders and leaders ofnew reli- gious movements in their time and place to account for their phenomenal success in attracting large numbers of followers. The AICs in general must be seen as valid and genuine expressions of religious initiative and creativity with a missionary thrust in their own right. They are also a positive response to a widespread religious need among African peoples, a response which is given within the framework of the Bible, and which is fulfilling a need not being satisfied elsewhere. "Liberation" or "salvation" is seen as including a striving for freedom from alien religious leadership and culturally alien forms of religious belief and practice. The general conviction is that God has ever been present among His people, just as He has been in all peoples, cultures and religious tend- encies ofthe world, notjust as condescension, but because His benevolent presence is in the logic of the cosmic covenant ofcreation and re-creation. Therefore the question of salvation is seen from a holistic standpoint in which full account is taken, not only of the special choices of elections of God, but also of all other elements in God's relations with the whole of mankind. Kamwana and Gudu as preachers, "prophets", and founders of new movements, articulated eloquently their followers' response to the tighten- ing grip of colonialism with its oppressive policies on certain pertinent issues in the wake ofthe introduction ofa capitalist economy. The integrity ofthe Christian missions in upholding the people's rights against violation by the colonial government and in the practical implementation of equity and justice within their domain, was questioned and even challenged