A Reformed Church Perspective On “Muthuso wa vhana” (Vhavenda Traditional Immunisation Practice): A Case Study Of The Soutpansberg Synod Of The Reformed Churches In South Africa

Abstract

Muthuso wa vhana is a ritual that the Reformed churches in South Africa object to. The study focuses on investigating the understanding of the members of the Reformed Churches about Muthuso wa vhana. Muthuso wa vhana is a ritual done by the traditional doctor to prepare the newborn child to live a healthy life on earth and to be protected against evil spirits and the risk of being affected by diseases such as ngoma and lathavha. The reason is that the child must be protected, and the child should not have a problem when he plays or finds himself or herself among the children who have gone under the ritual Muthuso wa vhana. Muthuso wa vhana is to treat a newborn child with medicine to protect the child against diseases and evil spirits before the child is allowed to go out of the hut. After the umbilical cord fell off, the family summoned the traditional doctor to come and treat the child with traditional medicine. The Vhavenda people believe that if the traditional doctor has treated the child, he or she is safe to go out of the hut. An explorative research design using qualitative methodology was adopted in this study. The literature review provides an account of ongoing discussions by other scholars and researchers on related topics. Individual interviews were conducted to obtain data from mothers who hold beliefs about Muthuso wa vhana, even though they are church members, and regard Muthuso wa vhana as a wrong practice for Christians. The population for this study consisted of mothers who know Muthuso wa vhana, traditional healers, both women and men, pastors, and parents who have taken their children to Muthuso wa vhana. The age of the population ranges from 43 to 80 years. The research adopted the following steps to analyse the data: familiarisation, indexing, charting, mapping, and interpretation. The research findings explored the community's knowledge and understanding of Muthuso wa vhana, including its various forms like taboo, Tshiunza, incision/sacrificial immunisation, and giving a name, along with the purpose behind these practices, such as disease prevention and protection from witchcraft. The church's position on Muthuso wa vhana is discussed, highlighting doctrinal considerations and scriptural references. Additionally, the study examines reasons for the church's adherence to Muthuso wa vhana, including religious and cultural factors, challenges faced by the community, fears regarding consequences and death, and pressures from family members.