A contextual study of 1 Samuel 28 in relation to divination in contemporary African society

Abstract

This Thesis is a hermeneutical analysis of 1 Samuel 28 in relation to divination practices in contemporary African society. The focus of the analysis is on the fluidity of ideological renditions of divination in the Bible text and the contemporary African society. The framework of the study is postcoloniality; a literary approach of Bible interpretation where the Bible text is read in a decolonized way with a view of liberating and giving voice to the hitherto demonized, ridiculed and silenced African traditional systems. The analysis takes forms of a close reading of 1 Samuel 28 in its original context and examines its contextual relevance to the African socio-cultural setting in relation to divination. Different African modes of divination and their modes of operation are also discussed. The contemporary African ideas and attitudes are also articulated. The study revealed that both the Bible (con)text and Africans today express ambivalent attitudes towards the practice of divination. They criticize diviners and divination yet on the other hand when faced with life challenges which modem science and technology cannot solve, they opt for divination services. In most cases, divination services are sought nicodemusly with the aim of concealing the client's identity from the public. When compared with the scenario in the Bible narrative, there is no difference with what happens in modem Africa. Saul banished diviners from the land because their services were regarded illicit on the ideological basis of the Deuteronomist writer. However, when Saul was faced with a desperate situation, he goes after the ones he banished. He put aside his royal robes and waited for darkness to cover him up as he finds his way to Endor. When the text is read in conversion with the African contemporary views on divination, we notice that they share the ideology of portraying divination as an illicit practice, and approve other means of dealing with human problems (like prophets as in the biblical society; science and technology, Christianity and modem medicine among others in the contemporary settings). However, on the other hand when faced with life challenges, the Africans look back to what they disputed. The negative labels of this noble African religious institution by Western colonialism is the reason why an African, faced with problems that need divination, finds it shameful, uncivilized and backward to seek the services of a diviner publicly but in hiding.