Faith in Flux: Pentecostalism and Mobility in Rural Mozambique

Pentecostalism is known for displacing that which came before, but anthropologist Devaka Premawardhana's research in Mozambique shows that indigenous traditions remain vibrant and influential even in the lives of converts. He narrates a range of everyday hardships faced by a rural Makhuwa-speaking people to explore how wellbeing sometimes entails not stability but mobility.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 03 September 2021
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press

Pentecostalism, the fastest-growing form of Christianity in Africa, is renowned for displacing earlier traditions. However, anthropologist Devaka Premawardhana's research in Mozambique yielded a different narrative. Contrary to expectations, he observed neither significant growth nor a dramatic rupture in the region where he worked. Instead, his study presents a groundbreaking paradigm for understanding global Christianity, focusing on religious fluidity, existential mobility, and the enduring influence of indigenous traditions among converts.

In his book "Faith in Flux," Premawardhana delves into the daily struggles faced by the Makhuwa-speaking people in rural Mozambique. He explores how well-being can sometimes be achieved through mobility rather than stability, highlighting the ambivalent response of the Makhuwa to Pentecostalism and their historical resistance to sedentarization and modernizing projects. Through their nuanced responses, the Makhuwa offer profound insights into the essence of human existence. They reveal the transformative power of changing as a means of enduring, the essence of becoming as a mode of being, and the significance of converting as a way of life.

Premawardhana's research challenges prevailing narratives about the spread of Christianity in Africa and emphasizes the importance of considering the local context and the enduring influence of indigenous traditions. His work sheds light on the complex dynamics between globalization, cultural change, and religious identity, offering a fresh perspective on the evolving landscape of global Christianity.

Weight: 364g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780812225105