Before sunrise this morning, members of the Nazareth Baptist Church (iBandla lamaNazaretha or Shembe Church) came down to Milnerton for a baptism service. They are one of the many African Initiated Churches - churches which follow the Christian creed (mainly Old Testament) and include significant components of traditional African spiritualism and cultural practices. The leader of the Shembiates explained to me that they come to the sea for Baptism because "God is living, and the water must be moving".
There were three different church groups on the beach this morning. All had male leaders, and all were accompanied by a choir of ladies who were dressed in a choral uniform. Over the hour that they were there the singing and drum beats never stopped.
Their baptisms were full-body dunkings. High summer this would be interesting - but it was bitterly cold this morning, and I really felt for the initiates!
Originally started the project to improve my photography skills. Over a 2500 photos later it's become a personal diary. I post pictures that mark my...
