By Sibusiso Masilela
Over 3 000 Congregants of the Nazareth Baptist popularly known as Shembe welcomed their leader his Holiness Unyazi Lwezulu in the country for the second annual sermon.
The popular leader of one of Africa’s oldest indigenous dominions was welcomed by excited members at the Church’s local headquarters at Bethany near Mahlanya on Monday afternoon after entering the Kingdom through the Mahamba border posts.
The welcoming ceremony saw the members showcase ummiso and the Church’s traditional songs known as ‘Umgidi’, as they escorted their leader into the home in front of their leader’s entourage.
The Leader then issued a blessing to the congregants saying ‘Inkosi inibusise’ meaning God bless you, marking the start of the Church’s two two-week services in the country.
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The Eswatini sermon coordinator Evangelist Derrick Dlamini welcomed the Leader in the country.
“We are happy that our Church Leader is in the country for the second annual prayer, and we will announce the logistics of the sermon in due course,” he said.
He is expected to be joined by thousands of congregants from Eswatini, South Africa and Mozambique during the sermon.
The Church leader will lead the first Sabbath sermon at the Ludzidzini Royal Residence on Saturday, May 25, 2024, which will be preceded by the Umgidi ceremony where the church members worship God using the African traditional dances in front of their majesties a day later.
His Holiness first visited the country in 2023 where he further blessed the building of a new temple at Kamjekuza near Madlengephisi.
He further made a courtesy call to their majesties at Lozitha Royal Palace where he later led the Sabbath prayer at Ludzidzini.
Over 300 Emaswati joined the Church which resonates with both Christian and African values during the first edition of the annual sermon.
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The Church commands one of the largest following in the SADC region estimated at over 9 million mainly in the Kwazulu Natal province and other provinces in South Africa.
The church also has branches in Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
The Church was founded in 1910 by its Leader Ucambi Wendlela and led by three other leaders such as Inkosi Inyanga Yezulu, Inkosi Ilanga and Uthingo Lenkosazana, who is Father to the current Leader (Unyazi Lwezulu).
The Church usually holds its Pilgrimage at mountain Canaan in Kwazulu Natal in January.
Other holy months for the Church are July and October where members follow a special diet where they avoid chicken, and flour during their three holy months.
Members of the Shembe also do not eat pork and refrain from alcohol usage.
The Church discourages premarital sex and accepts polygamy, among its list of values.
