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The Religious Conversion Process Among the Sidāma of North-East Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2011

John H. Hamer
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Abstract

This article analyses the conversion process and the experiences of the Sidāma, in being proselytised by Protestant missionaries in an attempt to integrate them into the modernising Ethiopian state. The conversion process is considered in terms of reasons for accepting or rejecting the new religion. A minority of Sidāma are shown to have changed from old beliefs and practices, partly because of the ease of moral reinterpretation and secular incentives, but primarily because of dissatisfaction with reciprocal exchange relations with indigenous spirits and a desire to transcend the finality of death. In advancing this proposition it rejects the possibility of Sidāma beliefs as constituting a closed system of cosmology. Though Islam is also present in the region, for political and economic reasons it has been less attractive to prospective converts than Christianity.

Résumé

Cet article analyse le processus de conversion et les expériences des Sidāmas dans le cadre du prosélytisme exercé par les missionnaires protestants pour tenter de les intégrer dans l'Etat éthiopien en phase de modernisation. Le processus de conversion est examiné en termes de raisons d'accepter ou de rejeter la nouvelle religion. Il apparaît qu'une minorité de Sidāmas ont renoncé à d'anciennes croyances et pratiques, en partie en raison de la facilité à les réinterpréter moralement et des incitations profanes, mais principalement en raison d'un mécontentement vis-à-vis des relations d'échange réciproque avec des esprits indigènes et un désir de transcender la finalité de la mort. En avançant cette proposition, l'article rejette la possibilité que les croyances Sidâma puissent constituer un système cosmologique fermé. Bien qu'également présent dans la region, l'islam a moins séduit les convertis potentiels que le christianisme, pour des raisons politiques et économiques.

Type
Research Article
Information
Africa , Volume 72 , Issue 4 , November 2002 , pp. 598 - 627
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 2002

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