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Shembe Ladies
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Each year during the last three weeks of October over 25,000 Zulu Shembes gather at Judea near Eshowe to meet their Leader. Interviews can be arranged.
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Older Ladies
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This festival takes place at Judea near Eshowe every year during October. Tens of thousands of faithful followers gather and resurrect the village disbanded after the previous year. In this very vibrant and colourful village hundreds of family shops spring up selling items from food to religious paraphernalia. A hive of economic activity prevails in between a formal religious program.
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Shembe Maidens
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There are two sessions of prayer and traditional "prayer" dances performed by five distinct groups. At prayer everybody dresses in long white robes (the elders dress in green). At the dance the men dress in traditional warrior type gear, and older women in modest black and beautifully beaded dresses and headgear. The younger women and the Scottish in their distinctive attire. No shoes, hats, smoking or alcohol is permitted.
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Faithful Follower
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Shembe has 4.5 million followers. Shembe, who is the fourth successor to the prophet Isaiah (Isaya), is regarded as a miracle performer in the mould of Christ. After services, thousands queue kneeling to be blessed (with a bottle of vaseline) and cured. A visit to Judea is a step into another world that is on our doorstep yet so distant to us. Visitors are welcome and meetings with him can be arranged.
The Nazereth Baptist Church was introduced to the continent of Africa by Prophet Isaiah Shembe in 1910.
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Shembe man dressed for prayer
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Religious basic belief
The Nazereth believes in God the father (Jehova) God the Son (Jesus Christ) God the Holy Spirit of Ekuphakameni (Shembe the Holy Spirit - not the person in human flesh). The church observes the Sabbath Day.
Nazarite
A Nazarite takes a vow that they may not partake of any liqour, shall not shave his/her hair. Males will be circumsized on reaching 18. They be baptised in a pool of water. He or she does not feed himself or herself with all that which is cast out. (Pork is singled out strongly). These basic requirements need to be fulfilled to attain holiness.
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Shembe Women Dance
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Values
The Nazareth observes traditional values which are not in conflict with Gods will. If you are African then African traditional values and if Western, Western traditional values. Emphasis on traditional African attire is not in conflict with God. Hence there is an uncommon way of worshipping God that is through African traditional dance with beating of drums.
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Shembe Service
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During the month of October, more than 20 000 Shembes gather for a month of religious celebrations in the village of Judea near Eshowe. The Village literally springs up overnight at their yearly gathering place. This is an absolute eye opener and gives one a chance to meet the Shembes and their Saviour. On the Sunday followers get an opportunity to be healed and blessed by Shembe. Saturday is the traditional prayer dance. Sunday is the day of prayer.
There is a tremendous emphasis on traditional dress and dance, praise singing and the blowing of the Horns of Jericho.
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Scottish on the march
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Other information available from the author
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Homes
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The Evangel
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Pilgrimage to the Holy mountain
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Uniform & the Dance
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The Early life of the prophet
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Visions of the Prophet
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Some Traditions of the Prophet
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History of the North Zululand Temple
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Younger Boys
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Shembe Memorial Day
As well as the yearly gathering, each year the Shembes gather at Judea to pay their respects to their predecessors on the 19th of December. This is part of their Shembe zulu culture.
Other Tours
Zululand Eco-Tours. From The George Hotel and Zululand Backpackers. Eshowe.
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Older Men
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1. Tours to other Zulu Villages. Walters Zulu Village
2. Tours to Traditional Zulu Ceremonies Traditional Zulu Ceremonies.
3. Tours to Sangomas Healings and Initiations. Sangomas Healing and Initiations
4. Walking Township Tours. King Dinizulu Township Tour
5. Three day Zululand Outback Tour. Zululand Outback Tour
6. Zululand Weekend Package. Zululand Weekend Package
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Men in traditional attire
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Zululand Eco-Adventures
Eshowe
Zululand
KwaZulu Natal
South Africa
info@eshowe.com
035 474 4919
Your Guides:
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Graham Chennells
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Walter Cele
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Gladys Dlamini
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Top level
Zulu Tours
Maidens in procession