The Christian movement that occurred amongst the Luba of Katanga, Belgian Congo, 1915 to 1950.

What is it about?

This article studies the Christian movement that occurred amongst the Luba of Katanga, Belgian Congo, from about 1915 to 1950, paying particular attention to how it was received by different social categories and mediated by local religious enthusiasts. The notion of conversion is examined across two generations with reference to ageing, revival and reprise via a case study of the Congo Evangelistic Mission (CEM). The paper shows how the CEM's literary and pneumatic practices were understood both in terms of ruptures with what had gone before and through establishing continuities with pre-existing culture, particularly the search for social harmony.

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Why is it important?

This is detailed case study which reconstructs the fine grain of religious change offering new insight into research on conversion.