Original Research - Special Collection: Interreligious Dialogue

The interrelatedness between the Nama Khoikhoi supreme being and celestial objects

Iwana Hartmann, Maniraj Sukdaven
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | Vol 80, No 2 | a9299 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v80i2.9299 | © 2024 Iwana Hartmann, Maniraj Sukdaven | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 31 July 2023 | Published: 09 May 2024

About the author(s)

Iwana Hartmann, Department of Religion Studies, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
Maniraj Sukdaven, Department of Religion Studies, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

The assumption among Europeans that the Khoikhoi indigenous people of southern Africa had little to no religious beliefs is evident throughout historical documents. However, if the Khoikhoi were regarded as having any religious beliefs, it was assumed that the moon or sun were objects of worship in the society. Contrary to this incorrect interpretation, this article uncovers the interrelatedness between these two celestial objects and the Supreme Being of the Khoikhoi, Tsũi-||goab, through systematic inquiry. This systematic inquiry seeks to: (1) investigate the interrelatedness between the Supreme Being and the celestial objects, (2) clarify the origins of the assumptions made and (3) explain coherently why and how these assumptions were perpetuated.

Contribution: The authors argue that premature conclusions made by outsiders led to there being no need for investigating the religious beliefs of the Khoikhoi society because it was assumed there were none or that they were superficially bound and/or limited to celestial bodies.


Keywords

Khoikhoi religious belief system; assumptions; TSŨI-||GOAB; celestial objects; interrelatedness.

Sustainable Development Goal

Goal 15: Life on land

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