Who are the Shangaan? They are group of people with the same heritage, customs, and language numbering between 1.5 – 2 million people.
Where do they live? They live primarily in the Gaza Province of Southern Mozambique and the Limpopo Province of South Africa. There are other much smaller pockets located in Swaziland and Zimbabwe.
Wasn’t there a war in Mozambique? Portugal claimed Mozambique as its colony in 1752. The Portuguese government allowed the local kings and rulers to continue ruling their respective peoples, but under the over-arching authority of Portugal. This more or less continued until Mozambique gained independence. In 1962, Mozambican nationalists had formed the Mozambican Liberation Front (FRELIMO) to try and negotiate independence. Eventually, they began an armed liberation struggle in 1964. In 1974, the fascist Portuguese regime was overthrown and Mozambique became independent on June 25, 1975.
Religion: Historically, the Shangaan people have adhered to African traditional religions (animism/ancestral spirit worship). This is still common, especially among those living in rural areas. It was estimated that, like other Tsonga people, the Shangaan are about 43% followers of traditional religion. Even though many began identifying with Roman Catholicism or one of the Protestant denominations many years ago, a large percentage remain faithful to some form of animism or ancestral spirit worship. During the Marxist years (1975 – mid 1980s), the practice of religious beliefs was outlawed and made very difficult to the point of widespread severe persecution and suffering. Those who adhered to animism and ancestral spirit worship, especially in the rural areas, continued to a certain degree with their practices. Even though religious practice in any form was greatly suppressed by the government, practically all-religious practices survived and were not eliminated altogether. In 1988, as the government was making its transition from Marxism to multi-party democracy, the Ministry of Justice created the Department of Religious Affairs. This department was responsible for registering and establishing relations with various churches. By the middle of 1995, approximately 300 religious groups had been registered.
Language: The national language of Mozambique is Portuguese, which is what is taught in the schools. Their heart language or the language they speak in their homes and with their families is called Xichangana, or Shangaan by outsiders.
Customs: Traditionally, the Shangaan have been agriculturalists and to some degree pastoralists (substance farmers based on the use of domesticated herd animals). The Shangaan people were among the first to be used as laborers in the diamond and gold mines of South Africa; they were considered superior to other Bantu peoples in this type of work. Many have migrated to the cities due to famine and the war. Thousands of Shangaan people were forced to flee their traditional way of life as farmers in the countryside to cramped conditions in the towns and cities. Because of these changes, today, many Shangaan people do not practice or reflect the traditional livelihood and customs.
Major Crops: Maize, Rice, Cotton, Groundnuts, Sugar cane, Cashew nuts.
Annual Income per Person: $80
Please Pray for:
- More workers to go out into the harvest. (Matthew 9:38)
- Peace to continue in Mozambique.
- The government to continue to allow religious freedom.
- The Lord to continue to raise Godly church leaders to lead the growing number of new churches.
- Unity among the believers.
- Ways to be discovered that will help meet the tremendous physical needs of the Shangaan in such a way as to enhance evangelistic and church growth opportunities.
(The majority of this information can be found on the IMB‘s CESA website.)
Here are a few photos of the Shangaan from my time in Mozambique.
In front of the school in Kunguma, Mozambique.
These two mischievous boys are Funny and Carlito from Mabuzane, Mozambique.
Yours truly with some ladies in Mawene, Mozambique.
