Table Of Content30
this book is a critical analysis of how Maasai informants read some selected
Old testament texts that are thought to have an appeal to people with semi/
A
nomadic ways of life. the Maasai is a nilotic ethnic group of semi/nomadic
M
w
pastoralists living in the northern tanzania, and southern Kenya, east africa. i A
t A
h s
the book focuses on the parallels between the Maasai and biblical concepts of A
t i A M E
nomadic lifestyle. On the one hand, the semi/nomadic heritage of the Maasai hE E AAsAi ncountEr
n
B
faces severe cultural and political difficulties when encountering east african c
i o B
B with thE iBlE
l u
modern ways of life. On the other, the ancient Israel actually experienced the
E n
t
opposite, seeing a strengthening of semi/nomadic ways of life. therefore, the E
r
book demonstrates the potentials of the supposed parallels between the two by
allowing the experiences of the ancient Israel to contribute to strengthen the Nomadic Lifestyle
semi/nomadic ways of life, a key aspect of traditional Maasai values into the a
s as a Hermeneutic Question
a
contemporary east african context. HN
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Zephania Shila Nkesela is general Secretary of Cen-
tral Diocese, evangelical Lutheran Church in tanza-
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nia. the present work is a revised version of his PhD ph
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thesis at VID Specialized University, Stavanger, nor- iA
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way, where he was part of VID’s Maasai/Bible Project. h
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www.peterlang.com
9781433173684_cvr_eu.indd All Pages 16-Sep-20 22:07:23
30
this book is a critical analysis of how Maasai informants read some selected
Old testament texts that are thought to have an appeal to people with semi/
A
nomadic ways of life. the Maasai is a nilotic ethnic group of semi/nomadic
M
w
pastoralists living in the northern tanzania, and southern Kenya, east africa. i A
t A
h s
the book focuses on the parallels between the Maasai and biblical concepts of A
t i A M E
nomadic lifestyle. On the one hand, the semi/nomadic heritage of the Maasai hE E AAsAi ncountEr
n
B
faces severe cultural and political difficulties when encountering east african c
i o B
B with thE iBlE
l u
modern ways of life. On the other, the ancient Israel actually experienced the
E n
t
opposite, seeing a strengthening of semi/nomadic ways of life. therefore, the E
r
book demonstrates the potentials of the supposed parallels between the two by
allowing the experiences of the ancient Israel to contribute to strengthen the Nomadic Lifestyle
semi/nomadic ways of life, a key aspect of traditional Maasai values into the a
s as a Hermeneutic Question
a
contemporary east african context. HN
eo
rm
m
a
ed
neic
u L
tic Qifes
t
uy Z s n
ele E p h A n i A h i l A k E s E l A
s
t
io
n
Zephania Shila Nkesela is general Secretary of Cen-
tral Diocese, evangelical Lutheran Church in tanza-
Z
E
nia. the present work is a revised version of his PhD ph
A
n
thesis at VID Specialized University, Stavanger, nor- iA
s
way, where he was part of VID’s Maasai/Bible Project. h
il
A
n
k
E
s
E
l
A
P
e
t
e
r
L
a
n
g
www.peterlang.com
16-Sep-20 22:07:23
A Maasai Encounter
with the Bible
Bible & Theol ogy in Africa
Knut Holter
General Editor
Vol. 30
The Bible & Theology in Africa series is part of the Peter Lang Humanities list.
Every volume is peer reviewed and meets
the highest quality standards for content and production.
PETER LANG
New York • Bern • Berlin
Brussels • Vienna • Oxford • Warsaw
Zephania Shila Nkesela
A Maasai Encounter
with the Bible
Nomadic Lifestyle
as a Hermeneutic Question
PETER LANG
New York • Bern • Berlin
Brussels • Vienna • Oxford • Warsaw
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Control Number: 2020000331
Bibliographic information published by Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek.
Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the “Deutsche
Nationalbibliografie”; detailed bibliographic data are available
on the Internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de/.
ISSN 1525-9846
ISBN 978-1-4331-7368-4 (hardback)
ISBN 978-1-4331-7373-8 (ebook pdf)
ISBN 978-1-4331-7374-5 (epub)
ISBN 978-1-4331-7375-2 (mobi)
DOI 10.3726/b16114
© 2020 Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., New York
29 Broadway, 18th floor, New York, NY 10006
www.peterlang.com
All rights reserved.
Reprint or reproduction, even partially, in all forms such as microfilm,
xerography, microfiche, microcard, and offset strictly prohibited.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements vii
Chapter One: Introduction 1
A Case from Maasai 1
Background and Context 3
Research Context 8
Research Question and Approach 12
Aim of the Study 13
Methodology 13
Ethical Considerations 14
Scope and Limitations 16
The Maasai 17
Partial Conclusion 27
Bibliography 32
Chapter Two: Theoretical Perspectives 37
Introduction 37
The Maasai Oral “Text” 37
Interpretive Context 39
Actors 48
vi | a maasai encounter with the bible
Partial Conclusion 56
Bibliography 60
Chapter Three: Reading Old Testament Texts in Maasai Context 65
Introduction 65
Data Collection and Analysis 66
A Maasai Reading of Gen. 13:1–12 73
A Maasai Reading of Exod. 13:17–22 91
A Maasai Reading of Jer 35:5–10 100
Partial Conclusion 109
Bibliography 112
Chapter Four: Maasai Indigenous Readings in Dialogue with Critical Old
Testament Studies: Reflections and Implications 113
Introduction 113
Methodological Consideration 113
Maasai Readings of Gen. 13:1–12 in Dialogue with Critical Old
Testament Studies 115
Maasai Readings of Exod. 13:17–22 in Dialogue with Critical Old
Testament Studies 137
Maasai Readings of Jer 35:5–10 in Dialogue with Critical Old Testament
Studies 151
Partial Conclusion 157
Bibliography 164
Chapter Five: Maasai Experiences and Old Testament Studies in Africa 169
Introduction 169
Old Testament Studies in Africa 169
Contemporary Challenges of Old Testament Studies in Africa 177
My Maasai Project as a Contribution 185
Partial Conclusion 198
Bibliography 205
Chapter Six: Concluding Remarks 211
A Summary of Findings 211
A Response to my Research Question 213
A Case from Maasai: What Can Be Said to Meitamei 215
Bibliography 216
Appendices 219
Indexes 223
Acknowledgements
One Haya (ethnic group in Tanzania) proverb goes “Many hands make light work.”
I wish to extend my profound gratitude to all those who in different ways joined
their hands with mine for the accomplishment of this work. A special thanks goes
to VID Specialized University for designing the Maasai project and accepting me
to be one of the researchers. Likewise, I am very grateful to the director of the
project, my supervisor Professor Knut Holter. His criticisms, understanding, and
encouragement throughout the three years of this project pushed me this far. My
fellow Ph.D students, my fellow researchers in the project Dr. Hoyce Mbowe and
Dr. Beth E. Elness-Hanson, and the whole staff provided not only support, but
also an encouraging environment for me to accomplish this work.
I also thank Professor Joseph Parsalaw, the Vice Chancellor of Tumaini
Makumira University in Tanzania and all the staff for their collaboration with the
Maasai project. The library at Makumira has provided resources that enrich this
work. Thanks are due to my Maasai informants for not only being ready in in-depth
interviews, but also devoting their time to read biblical texts with me in groups.
Thanks also to pastors who allowed me to conduct research in their parishes of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), North Central Diocese.
I would have mentioned your names, but the research protocols do not allow.
Equally, I acknowledge my Church, the ELCT Central Diocese with the
leadership of Bishop Dr. Alex Seif Mkumbo, for permitting me to study abroad at
viii | a maasai encounter with the bible
the time when I was needed in my capacity as General Secretary of the Diocese.
Mentioned last, but remembered most is my family. My wife Tumwitikege and
our two children Paul and Rebeca were always praying and encouraging me to
complete my studies. Though they stayed alone in Tanzania all three years, their
psychological support kept me moving forward always. I am indebted to God
Almighty and all of you extending your hands to help me. Thank you very much,
Ashe Naleng, Tusen Takk, Asanteni Sana.
