Religious rituals and socio-economic change: the impact of the Zimbabwe ‘cash crisis’ on the BaTonga Masabe (alien spirits) ceremony

Abstract

This article examines the impact of the ‘cash crisis’ bedeviling Zimbabwe since mid-2016 on the enactment of the Masabe ceremony within the BaTonga community, (Sinakatenge village, Eastern Binga, North-west Zimbabwe). The article argues that the cash crisis has negatively affected Masabe ritual processes. The paper argues that conduction of traditional ceremonies have in contemporary times adopted use of ‘cash’ to facilitate their conduction. Hence, the liquidity crisis has thus witnessed ceremonies being postponed, delayed or even avoided. In the quest to further understand the negative consequences of cash crisis on ritual engagement, the study analyses BaTonga traditional culture and religious practices which help highlight the importance of religion and ritual in fulfilling individual and societal needs and how disruptions in ritual engagement can affect the psychological needs of individuals or the integration and cohesion of the society/group. In achieving this objective, the study utilizes cases from BaTonga villages in Sinakatenge village. Oral testimonies were ethnographically collected from BaTonga villagers pertaining challenges being faced in conducting the Masabe ceremonial practices.