Jan Matthew Schoffeleers

**Jan Mathijs Schoffeleers** (1928~2011), uyo wakafumiska mabuku ghake ghanandi mu Chingelezi nga ni Jan Matthew Schoffeleers panji Matthew Schoffeleers wakaŵa mishonale wa ku Netherlands ndipo wakaŵa wa gulu la Montfort Fathers. Pamanyuma, wakalutizga nchito yake ya kusambizga ŵanthu vya cisopa ku Netherlands, ndipo wakalutilira kusanda nkhani za ku Africa.

## Umoyo Wakwambilira
Schoffeleers wakababika pa Ogasiti 31, 1928, mwana wakwamba mu mbumba ya ŵalimi mu muzi wa Geverik, kufupi na tawuni ya Beek, mu chigaŵa cha South Limburg kumwera kwa Netherlands. Pa nyengo iyi, ŵanthu ŵanandi mu chigaŵa ichi ŵakaŵa Ŵakatolika. Schoffeleers wakaciskika na mbumba yake kuti waŵe musofi, ndipo wakamba masambiro ghake ghaciŵiri mu sukulu yakucemeka "small seminary" mu Schimmert, iyo yikasazga masambiro gha vya ŵanthu na kusambizga vya cisopa, apo wakaŵa na vilimika 14 mu 1942, ndipo wakaŵa kuti wali na cilato cakuti waŵe mishonale. Mu 1949, wakanjira sukulu ya umishonale ya Montfort ku Oirschot ndipo wakati wasambira vya cisopa, wakasambizgika usembe mu Malichi 1955..

## Milimo mu Malawi
Mu 1955, Schoffeleers wakatumika ku Nyasaland, uko pa nyengo iyo kukachemekanga Malawi, ndipo wakakhalako vyaka vyakujumpha viŵiri kufupi na Thyolo. Kwambira mu 1958, wakaluta ku Lower Shire Valley, uko wakakhalako vyaka vinkhondi. Ku malo agha, cikaŵa cakusuzga kuzgora ŵanthu ŵa ku malo agha kuŵa Ŵakatolika cifukwa ca milimo ya gulu la M'Bona Cult na gulu la Nyau. Schoffeleers wakamalira nyengo yinandi pakusanda vya cisopa ca M·Bona na vya gulu la Nyau, nangauli gulu ili likaŵa lakususkana comene na Ŵakhristu. Ici cikapangiska kuti waŵe na mphindano na ŵalongozgi ŵake ŵa cisopa, ndipo Schoffeleers wakamba kujilongosora kuti ni munthu wakusanda za ŵanthu m'malo mwa kuŵa mishonale.

Pamanyuma pa vilimika vyakujumpha vinkhondi na viŵiri ku Malawi kwambura kuluta ku holide, Schoffeleers wakaŵa na mwaŵi wa kuluta ku sukulu. Pa nyengo iyi, Yunivesite ya Lovanium ku Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, iyo yikaŵa na ŵa Jesuit, yikaŵapa masambiro gha ŵanthu. Paumaliro wa chaka chakwambilira cha masambiro, wakawelera ku Malawi kuti wakalutilire kusambira vya cisopa ca M ̇Bona.

Cifukwa ca suzgo la usilikari mu Congo, wakawelera yayi ku Kinshasa, ntheura wakasamukira ku yunivesite ya Oxford mu 1966, ndipo wakasambira vya ŵanthu ku St. Catherine's College. Mu Juni 1966, wakalembeska kuti waŵe na digiri ya D. Wakaluta ku Malaŵi kuti wakalutizge kusambira vya cisopa ca M?? Bona, mabungwe gha visalu na mizimu iyo yili kumwera kwa caru ici. Pamanyuma pakugwira nchito yikuru ku Malawi, uko wakasambizganga nyengo yichoko waka, Schoffeleers wakawelera ku Oxford mu Janyuwale 1968 ndipo wakalemba thesis yake yakulongosora za cisopa ca M?? Bona, gulu la Nyau na cisopa ca mizimu yakuzura na mizimu. Pamasinda, wakayowoya kuti wakakhumbanga kusambira vya ŵanthu kuti wamanye makora ŵanthu ŵa ku Africa. Kweni ivyo wakasambira vikamovwira kuti wawonenge vinthu mwakupambana na umo ŵanthu ŵakuviwonera.

Wakati wapokera digiri yake, Schoffeleers wakawelera ku Malawi, ndipo kwamba mu 1968 m'paka 1971, wakasambizganga pa sukulu ya Katolika. Kweni apo wakayezganga kuti waŵe Mufurika, bishopu mukuru wa Katolika wa ku Malawi wakasuska ndipo wakaleka sukulu iyi mu 1971 kuti waŵe msambizgi wa Social Anthropology pa University of Malawi, ku Zomba. Pamanyuma, Schoffeleers wakayowoya kuti wakafumako ku Malawi cifukwa cakuti boma la Hastings Banda likakaka ŵana ŵanyake ŵa ku yunivesite ndipo ŵanyake ŵakafumangamo mu caru ici. Ntheura wakawona kuti nchambura kwenelera kukhalako.

## Ntchito yakunthazi
Mu 1976, Schoffeleers wakasankhika kuŵa msambizgi wa Anthropology of Religion pa Free University Amsterdam, ndipo wakaŵa pulofesa mu 1980. Wakateŵeteraso nga ni mulara wa wupu wa African Studies Centre, Leiden. Apo wakaŵa ku Amsterdam, wakagwiranga nchito ya kuŵa movwiri wa wasembe mu msumba uwu, ndipo nangauli wakaŵa wa tchalitchi la Montfort, kweni wakawonananga nawo viŵi yayi. Apo wakaŵa pa Yunivesite ya Free, wakaciska ŵanyawo kuti ŵamanye vinandi vya caru cose ndiposo kuti ŵafumiske mabuku ghawo mu Cingelezi kuti ŵanthu ŵanandi ŵamanye. Ndipouli, mu 1988, Schoffeleers wakawona kuti ntchito iyo yikasazgikiranga kweniso kusintha kwa masambiro gha ŵanthu, vikapangiska kuti dipatimenti iyi yileke kuŵa yakukondweska. Ntheura wakaleka ntchito.

Mu 1989, wakapika udindo wa kuŵa Pulofesa wa vya Chisopa pa Yunivesite ya Utrecht, ndipo wakakhala kwenekura m'paka apo wakafumira pa nchito mu 1998 apo wakaŵa na vyaka 70.

## Ivyo ŵakakhumba kuchita pa kafukufuku

### Sayansi ya vya cisopa
Schoffeleers wakawonanga kuti mulimo wake ukuru pakuŵa wasayansi wa ŵanthu ukaŵa wa kulemba vya umoyo wa chisopa wa ŵanthu ŵa ku Malawi ŵa Mang'anja. M'malo mwa kuwona vinthu nga umo ŵanthu ŵakuviwonera, iyo wakayezga kupulikiska umo ŵanthu ŵa mu chigaŵa ichi ŵakughanaghanira na kusanda chisopa cha Ŵabona. Padera pa kulemba umo chisopa ichi chikachitikiranga mazuŵa ghano, Schoffeleers wakalemba kuti M·Bona wakaŵa munthu uyo wakafwa chifukwa cha chipulikano chake. Ndipouli, wakazomerezga kuti vinthu vinyake vyakukhwaskana na ŵanthu awo ŵakafwa cifukwa ca cipulikano cawo vikafuma ku cisopa ca Cikhristu, pamanyuma pakuti Ŵang'anja ŵanandi ŵakang'anamukira ku Cikristu mu vyaka vya m'ma 1900 na ŵamishonale ŵa Katolika. Ntheura gulu ili likamba kuwona M'Bona kuŵa nchimi na wakusuzgika, wakuyana na Yesu, uyo wakathaska ŵanthu ŵafipa nga umo Yesu wakachitira na ŵazungu.

Schoffeleers wakawona kuti cisopa ici cikamba ca m'ma 1600, ndipo cikaŵa cakukolerana na muwuso wa ŵalongozgi awo ŵakaŵa na zina lakuti Lundu. Iyo wakati Lundu wakwamba wakaŵa na mazaza pa ndyali na chisopa. Mu Baibolo linyake, ŵanthu ŵakayowoya kuti apo Lundu wakatondekanga kwiza na vula pa nyengo iyo kukaŵa chilangalanga, wakawonanga kuti mwana wa mudumbu wake, M·Bona, wakathereska mazaza ghake. Lundu wakalangura kuti ŵakomeke M?? Bona, uyo wakacimbira mu msumba wa Lundu na kucimbilira ku Lower Shire Valley uko wakakomeka. Schoffeleers wakayaniska malo agho wakafwira na malo ghanyake agho Lundu wakaparanya nga ni malo ghakusoperapo. Iyo wakati ntchakuzirwa chomene kuzengaso malo ghakupatulika agha.

Nkhani iyi yikulongosora vya cisopa, umo ŵanthu ŵakukolerana na ŵalongozgi ŵawo, kweniso umo vinthu viliri mu cilengiwa. Schoffeleers wakayowoya kuti ŵanthu ŵanandi awo ŵakaŵako pambere chindindindi chindafike ŵakaghanaghananga kuti usange muwuso wa ŵanthu wasuzgika na mulongozgi uyo wakuchita vinthu mwambura kwenelera kweniso wakuyuzga ŵanthu ŵake, mbwenu chilengiwa nacho chingasuzgika. Masoka agha ghangagwentheka usange tingawezgerapo na kulutilira kukanizga ŵanthu kuti ŵaleke kugwiliskira ntchito uheni mazaza ghawo..

Ŵasambiri ŵanyake ŵakususkana na umo Schoffeleers wakalongosolera vya M'Bona. Nangauli Terence Ranger wakang'anamuranga kuti M?? Bona yayi, kweni wakalongosora kuti ŵanthu ŵa ku Maravi ŵakagomezganga kuti mzimu uwu ndiwo ukovwira ŵanthu kuti ŵakhalenge makora mu chigaŵa chinyake. Pakwamba mizimu iyo ŵanthu ŵakasopanga yikaŵa mizimu iyo yikakhalanga mu malo ghanyake, ndipo kanandi yikaŵanga na ŵasembe ŵanakazi. Nyengo yikati yajumphapo, Ranger wakagomezganga kuti malo ghanandi ghakusoperapo ghakaŵa pasi pa mazaza gha mbumba zakukhora.

Nakuti ŵanthu ŵakatenge M'Bona wakaŵa chiuta wa milonga panji mzimu uwo ukakhalanga mu malo gha Zambezi na milonga yake. Mzimu wa M'Bona ukaŵa wakukolerana na njoka, iyo yikaŵa cigaŵa ca mitheto ya ku Africa iyo yikayowoyanga za nkhondo pakati pa nombo, iyo yikimiranga ŵaleza na chigumula, na njoka yakuchemeka python, iyo yikimiranga ciŵingavula na vula zinandi, kwambura chigumula panji chilangalanga. Vingachitika yayi kuti pakwamba pakaŵa chisopa chimoza cha M'Bona icho chikaŵa na ŵakavuŵa ŵanandi pa malo ghakupambanapambana. Msambiri uyu wakakayikiraso usange kukaŵa ufumu wankhongono wa Lundu mu 1600.

Schoffeleers wakazgora ivyo Wrigley wakayowoya kuti nthano na mbiri yakale vikupambana yayi, kweni vingaŵa pamoza, mwakuti M·Bona wangaŵa munthu wa mdauko kweniso njoka. Wakayowoyaso kuti mabuku agho ghakalembeka na ŵanthu ŵa ku Portugal ghakaŵa ghachoko chomene ndipo ŵakamanyanga vinandi yayi vya ndyali panji chisopa cha ku Africa.

Nyau ni zina la ŵanthu ŵanandi awo ŵakukhala mu Malaŵi na Mozambiki. Ŵanthu aŵa ŵakwimba maseŵero ghakuvwara vikozgo, ndipo kanandi ŵakwimba pa viphikiro ivyo vikuchitika para munthu wafwa. Kufuma waka apo Malawi wakapokera wanangwa, ŵanthu ŵakwimba sumu ya Gule Wamkulu pa viphikiro vya caru. Mu 1975, ŵanthu ŵakaghanaghananga kuti pakaŵa magulu gha Nyau pafupifupi 500, agho ghakaŵa pa muzi ndipo pakaŵavya boma lakuŵawovwira. Cinthu cikuru comene pa kuvina uku nkhugwiliskira nchito viswaswa vyakwenelera kuvina, kusazgapo viswaswa vya ŵanthu na vinyama. Kuyana na umo Schoffeleers* wakughanaghanira, fundo ya chisopa iyo yikovwira ŵanthu kuti ŵawonenge makora vyamoyo ni umo ŵanthu ŵakukolerana na vyamoyo vinyake.

Wakayowoyaso kuti ŵanthu ŵanandi ŵa mtundu wa Nyau ŵakaŵa ŵakujiyimira paŵekha. Ŵanthu ŵa mtundu wa Nyau ŵakutinkha chomene Tchalitchi la Katolika nga umo ŵakutinkhira visambizgo vyake. Nangauli Schoffeleers wakalembapo vinandi yayi vyakukhwaskana na kuwusika na mizimu. Nkhani ya Phil. Wakalutilira kutemwa nkhani iyi. Munyake uyo wakaŵa mubwezi wake wakayowoya kuti wakawona nadi mzimu uwo ukazgoka thupi, ndipo wakati mizimu na visuzgo vya mizimu ni vyaunenesko, ni viyelezgero waka yayi. Schoffeleers wali na maghanoghano ghambura kwenelera, wakuzomerezga kuti ivyo munthu wakuwona vikuchitika nadi, kweni wakumanya yayi uko vikufuma..

### Mbiri ya ŵanthu na ŵanthu
Nga umo vikaŵira na ŵanthu ŵanandi awo ŵakasambira vya ŵanthu cha m'ma 1900, Schoffeleers nayo wakawona kuti ivyo wakalemba vikaŵa vyaunenesko. Wakakhozgera fundo za Ranger yakuti kusanda chisopa cha ku Africa na maluso ghake ndiposo mitheto iyo ŵanthu ŵakuyowoya, vingawovwira kuti vinthu ivyo vikachitika kale viŵeso makora. Wakalemba mabuku ghakulongosora vya visopa vyautesi mu Malaŵi, Zambia, na Zimbabwe. Ndipouli, ŵanthu ŵakasuska fundo iyi chifukwa ŵakaghanaghananga kuti ntchakubudika kugwiliskira ntchito mabuku gha mulomo.

Schoffeleers wakususka fundo yakuti nthano zakwambilira izo zikusungika nga ni mbiri ya mulomo, kanandi zikusintha kuti zikolerane na kusintha kwa ndyali na umoyo wa ŵanthu. Wakalongosora umo nkhani iyi yikenderanga apo wakayaniskanga nkhani ziŵiri zakususkana izo zikuyowoyeka mu Baibolo kuti wazakazengerepo nkhani yinyake iyo yikulongora kuti ŵanthu ŵa Lundu ŵakaleka kusopa ŵachiuta awo ŵakupangiska vula.

Pamanyuma pa vyaka vyakujumpha 30 vya kusanda chisopa na nkhani ya M?? Bona, Schoffeleers wakalongosora mu 1992, umo wakalongosolera kuti vyose ivi vikafuma ku kusintha kwa ndyali za ku Portugal ku Zambezia mu vyaka vya m'ma 1590 apo, m'malo mwa kugwira ntchito pasi pa kuvikilirika na ŵalongozgi ŵa ku malo agha, ŵakakhazikiska vigaŵa vyakukhora vya ku Portugal. Ŵasilikari ŵa ku Africa awo ŵakagwiranga nchito na Ŵapwitikizi ndipo ŵakacemekanga kuti Zimba, ŵakaparanya malo agho ŵanthu ŵakakanizgikiranga, kusazgapo malo ghakupatulika. Iyo wakati ŵanthu aŵa ŵakakhazikiska maufumu ghakuru chomene mu chigaŵa ichi kwa vyaka 30, kusazgapo ufumu unyake uwo mulongozgi wake wakaŵa Lundu.

Ndipouli, ŵalongozgi ŵacilendo ŵa ku Lundu ŵakaŵavya cakuyowoya na mizimu ya caru ico ŵakaparanya, ntheura ŵanthu ŵakwambilira ŵakawonanga muwuso wawo kuŵa wambura kuzomerezgeka. Malo ghakale agha ghakaŵa malo ghakwimako nkhondo, ndipo Lundu wakwamba wakati wathereskeka mu 1622 na Ŵapwitikizi na ŵabwezi ŵawo, malo agha ghakazengekaso. Ndipouli, likalutilira yayi kuŵa malo ghakupatulika gha Ciuta Wapachanya Nkhanira uyo wakawoneka nga ni njoka, kweni likaŵa malo ghakupatulika gha M·Bona, munthu uyo wakafwa cifukwa ca cipulikano cake. Schoffeleers wakutemwa kulongosora kuti M·Bona ni munthu uyo wakusuzgika.

### Matchalitchi gha Zionisiti mu South Africa
IMu 1991 Schoffeleers wakalemba nkhani yakukhwaskana na matchalitchi gha Ciziyoni mu South Africa iyo yikususkana na ivyo Jean Comaroff wakayowoya kuti, nangauli maluso gha matchalitchi agha ghakaŵa na cigaŵa cilicose yayi pa ndyali mu South Africa, kweni ghakawovwira comene pakususkana na muwuso wa ŵanakazi ŵatuŵa. Kuyana na umo iyo wakuwonera, matchalitchi gha Ciyonizimu ghakanenanga mazaza gha boma la South Africa mwa kukana mbiri iyo ŵamazaza ŵakufuma ku vyaru vinyake ŵakaŵakanizga.

Buku la Schoffeleers likati Comaroff wakasazgirako fundo ya kususka kujumpha pa ng'anamuro lake. Nangauli wakazomerezga kuti matchalitchi ghanyake agho ghakafuma ku Africa ghakaŵa na nkharo ya ndyali kweniso ghakaŵa malo ghakwimako nkhondo, kweni wakawona kuti ivi vikaŵa vyambura kwenelera. Wakayowoya kuti visopa vya Ciziyoni vikaŵa vyakukolerana yayi na boma la South Africa chifukwa cha kopa kugaluka. Nkhani yake yikaŵa yakukwesana, ndipo yikapangiska kuti Schoffeleers watambuzgike pa maungano ghanandi, comenecomene cifukwa cakuti ivyo wakayowoya vikaŵa vyambura kwenelera panji vya ndyali.

### Mbiri ya chigaŵa
Mu 1987, Schoffeleers wakalongosora mwakudumura mbiri ya Shire Valley ya kuumaliro wa vyaka vya m'ma 1500 na kukwambilira kwa m'ma 1700. Ŵanthu ŵanyake ŵakaghanaghananga kuti malonda gha njovu na ŵamalonda Ŵasilamu awo ŵakakhalanga mumphepete mwa nyanja mu chigaŵa cha Nampula na mu chigaŵa cha Zambezia, ghakawovwira kuti ŵanthu ŵa mtundu wa Maravi ŵambe kulamulira mu chigaŵa icho ŵakakhalanga vyaka vinandi. Ŵanthu ŵakayowoya kuti nkhondo izo zikachitika pakati pa vyaru ivi, kweniso kusintha kwa ndyali pakati pa 1570 na 1640, vikacitika cifukwa cakuti Ŵapwitikizi na ŵabwezi ŵawo ŵa ku Africa ŵakalekeska malonda agha.

Ndipouli, pali ukaboni unyake wakulongora kuti ŵanthu ŵa ku Maravi ŵakakhalanga mu vigaŵa vya Shire na Central Zambezi pambere vyaka vya m'ma 1500 vindafike, kweniso kuti ŵakaguliskanga njovu na Ŵasilamu ŵa mumphepete mwa nyanja. Mabuku ghakwambilira ghakulongosora vya chigaŵa ichi ghalipo bweka yayi, nangauli ŵasembe ŵanandi ŵa ku Portugal awo ŵakagwiranga ntchito ku malo agha ŵakalembapo nkhani izo zikulongora kuti ŵanthu ŵa ku Makua ndiwo ŵakaguliskanga njovu.

Mu vyaka vya m'ma 1500 na m'ma 1700, magulu ghanandi ghakanjira mu charu cha Zambezi. Ŵanthu ŵanyake ŵa ku Zimba ŵakwenera kuti ŵakaŵa ŵanthu ŵa mtundu wa Maravi awo ŵakendanga mu magulu ghachoko waka, awo ŵakalongozgekanga na ŵalongozgi ŵachoko, kweni ŵakakumananga na Ŵapwitikizi m'malo mwa kuchita malonda na Ŵasilamu ŵa mumphepete mwa nyanja. Mazgu ghakwambilira agho ghakuyowoya za zina la ufumu wa Lundu ghakalembeka mu 1614.

Schoffeleers wakuzomerezga kuti boma la Maravi likapangika cifukwa ca malonda gha njovu yayi, kweni wakagomezganga kuti maboma ghanandi ghakaŵako mu hafu yachiŵiri ya vyaka vya m'ma 1500 ndipo ghakathandazgika mwaluŵiro mu 1572, apo Ŵapwitikizi ŵakamba kuzenga vigongwe mu Dambo la Zambezi. Nkhani yake yakuti Zimba wakaŵako kumpoto kwa mlonga wa Zambezi mu 1592 yikukolerana na mabuku ghanyake agho ghakalembeka mu nyengo iyo, kweni wakayowoya kuti Lundu wakaŵa munthu wankhongono chomene mu 1590 C.E., nangauli palije buku ilo likuyowoyapo.

Chifukwa chakwamba icho Schoffeleers wakalongosolera fundo iyi ntchakuti Ŵazimba, awo ŵanthu ŵa ku Portugal ŵakaŵamanya kuti ŵakanjira mu Dambo la Zambezi mu 1590, ŵakaŵa ŵasilikari awo ŵakanozgeka na Lundu wakwamba na kuŵatuma kuti ŵakomere ŵanthu ŵa ku Portugal. Nangauli wakuzomerezga kuti palije ukaboni wakuti pali kukolerana uku, kweni Schoffeleers wakuzunura ivyo ŵanthu ŵakayowoya mu 1907, kuti gulu linyake ilo likaparanya chigaŵa cha pakati pa Zambezi pa nyengo yinyake likaŵa Ŵazimba. Cifukwa caciŵiri nchakuti, wakayaniska nkhani yinyake ya mu Baibolo yakukhwaskana na Lundu, iyo yikuyowoya kuti wali na nkhongono zakupangiska vula, na nkhani ya umo wasembe wa ku Portugal wakacitira mu 1608. Vyose ivi vikulongora kuti mu 1590 C.E. kukaŵavya boma la Lundu, ndipo Schoffeleers wakuzomerezga kuti Ŵamaravi awo Ŵapwitikizi ŵakakolerananga nawo mu vyaka ivi ŵakaŵa ŵekha. Ndipouli, wakayowoya kuti mu vyaka 20 ivyo vyajumpha, chigaŵa cha Lundu chikaŵa kutali chomene na ŵanthu ŵa ku Portugal.

## Umoyo wasono
Wakati wapumura pa nchito mu 1989, Schoffeleers wakakhalanga mu msumba wa Leiden, ndipo wakalutilira kucita kafukufuku na kulemba nkhani. Mu 2001, ŵakamusanga na nthenda ya Alzheimer ndipo mu 2006 wakaleka nyumba yake ku Leiden na kusamira ku muzi wa Montfort ku Maastricht, kumwera kwa Netherlands. Matthew Schoffeleers wakafwa mu Maastricht pa 24 Epulero 2011.

## Ukaboni


## Mabuku

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* M. Schoffeleers, (1991). 'Ritual Healing and Political Acquiescence: The Case of Zionist Churches in Southern Africa.' Africa Vol. 61, No. 2, pp.&nbsp;1–25.
* R. Willis, (1980). ‘The Literalist Fallacy and the Problem of Oral Tradition’. Social Analysis: The International Journal of Social and Cultural Practice No. 4, Using Oral Sources: Vansina and Beyond, pp.&nbsp;28–37
* C. Wrigley, (1988). The River-God and the Historians: Myth in the Shire Valley and Elsewhere. The Journal of African History, Vol. 29, No. 3, pp.&nbsp;367–383