The illusion of dematerialization
Reflections from the Mazione case of Southern Mozambique
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.23925/1677-1222.2024vol24i3a9Keywords:
Material religion, Dematerialization, Mozambique, MazioneAbstract
This article examines the illusion of dematerialization within religious contexts through a material approach to religion. The study is based on ethnographic research conducted in Zione churches in Maputo, southern Mozambique. It argues that interactions between Mazione members and evangelical missionaries drive dematerialization processes in these contexts. Furthermore, the article explores the dissemination of a "civilizing magic" rooted in colonial and racist ideologies, which seeks to combat so-called "traditional practices." This is premised on the perceived similarities between the rituals of African Independent Churches and those associated with traditional medicine. The analysis highlights the complex dynamics of religious transformation and the persistence of materiality in ostensibly dematerialized practices.
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