International Research Journal of Arts and Social Science Vol. 4(5) pp. 083-092, June, 2015
Available online http://www.interesjournals.org/IRJASS
DOI: http:/dx.doi.org/10.14303/irjass.2015.027
Copyright © 2015 International Research Journals
Full Length Reseach Paper
Intervention of beliefs and practices in Ugo (divination) in
African context: Case studying the Gଙ̃ K࢛ Y࢛ Presbyterian
Christians of Nyeri Presbytery, Kenya (1908 – 2008)
Hezekiah Murage Muraya, Grace Wamue-Ngare and Julius Gathogo
Presbyterian University of East Africa, P.O Box 387-00902, Kikuyu, Kenya
Corresponding author email: muragehm@yahoo.co.uk
Abstract
African world-view is controlled by some forces, which are believed to intervene in circumstances
beyond human capability. Cultures, communities and religious institution in many occasions come into
agreement of the existence of these supernatural powers. They however, differ greatly on their nature,
concept and the manner in which they are consulted and incorporated in human affairs bringing about
inconsistency in conviction and concerns of reliability. Thus, this study investigates beliefs and
practices in ࢛ go (healing divinity) among the Presbyterian Christians in Nyeri presbytery. The result of
this study is expected to resolve subject of dualism among the African Christians and bring about
wholistic living in the Christian community. Guided by Horton’s theory of African religion as one of
manipulation, and Niebuhr’s missiological model, the study adopted a descriptive survey to collect data
from 382 respondents (364 church members, 6 pastors, 6 elders, 6 ago). The study employed
systematic and multiple sampling techniques (purposive, stratified random, simple random and
snowball) to determine and select the sample. The data were collected through observation, interview
schedules and administering questionnaires to the respondents. Data was prepared for statistical
analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences, means and percentages formed part of the
descriptive statistics. The findings reveal that, the Gଙ̃ k࢛ y ࢛ believed in ࢛ go as key instrument through
which God heals them. The Church of Scotland Mission on its onset among the Gଙ̃ k࢛ y࢛ community
denounced these practices terming them as devilish without logically evaluating the value they held in
Gଙ̃ k࢛ y࢛ aspects of life. The imposed beliefs and practices as revealed in the study failed in offering
complete physical and spiritual elements in solving problems hindering the wellbeing of the
community. This resulted to Gଙ̃ k࢛ y࢛ PCEA Christians revert to ࢛ go in search of this spiritual elements a
trend that continues to the present day. This scenario is spurred by the Gଙ̃ k࢛ y 〰 ෦ PCEA Christians
understanding of health, illness and healing from African perspective that takes into account both
physical and spiritual aspects. This brings about the evidence of religious dualism among Gଙ̃ k࢛ y࢛
PCEA Christians. The study recommends inculturation procedure whereby Gଙ̃ k࢛ y࢛ ′࢙ culture elements
in tandem with biblical teaching are incorporated into Christianity and those incompatible are replaced.
The integration and the replacement help in enriching the mission Christianity, therefore as a result,
overcoming dualism.
Keywords: Gı̃ ku yu , beliefs and practices in u go, Presbyterian Church of East Africa, inculturation. Dualism,
Indigenous healing, Ritual purification.
INTRODUCTION
The introduction of Christian teachings in African culture,
in the 19
th
and 20
th
century CE, was paradoxically
accompanied by denouncements of African beliefs and
practices where such practices were immediately seen as
primitive and devilish. This was however done without
logically evaluating the said beliefs and practices and