Members of the Shembe faith (Nazareth Baptist Church), a religious hybrid of Christianity and African traditions, attend the funeral of their leader Vimbeni Shembe at the Ebuhleni village, north of Durban. Shembe was the fourth successor to Isaiah Shembe, a Zulu healer who formed the church a century ago to infuse African tribalism into Christianity brought over by Western missionaries. Photo: Reuters
Members of the Shembe faith (Nazareth Baptist Church), a religious hybrid of Christianity and African traditions, attend the funeral of their leader Vimbeni Shembe at the Ebuhleni village, north of Durban. Shembe was the fourth successor to Isaiah Shembe, a Zulu healer who formed the church a century ago to infuse African tribalism into Christianity brought over by Western missionaries. Photo: Reuters
Police and members of the army on guard during the funeral of Shembe church leader Vimbeni Shembe at the Ebuhleni village, north of Durban. Shembe was the fourth successor to Isaiah Shembe, a Zulu healer who formed the church a century ago to infuse African tribalism into Christianity brought over by Western missionaries. Photo: Doctor Ngcobo, The Mercury
The fallout caused by who should succeed the late leader of the Nazareth Baptist (Shembe) Church may have led to the formation of a fifth faction. Photo: Reuters
The thorny issue of who should succeed the late leader of the Nazareth Baptist (Shembe) Church was likely to end up in courts, a law expert warned. Photo: Doctor Ngcobo, The Mercury
Members of the Shembe faith (Nazareth Baptist Church), a religious hybrid of Christianity and African traditions, attend the funeral of their leader Vimbeni Shembe at the Ebuhleni village, north of Durban. Shembe was the fourth successor to Isaiah Shembe, a Zulu healer who formed the church a century ago to infuse African tribalism into Christianity brought over by Western missionaries. Photo: Reuters
Members of the Shembe faith (Nazareth Baptist Church), a religious hybrid of Christianity and African traditions, attend the funeral of their leader Vimbeni Shembe at the Ebuhleni village, north of Durban. Shembe was the fourth successor to Isaiah Shembe, a Zulu healer who formed the church a century ago to infuse African tribalism into Christianity brought over by Western missionaries. Photo: Doctor Ngcobo, The Mercury
Members of the Shembe faith (Nazareth Baptist Church), a religious hybrid of Christianity and African traditions, attend the funeral of their leader Vimbeni Shembe at the Ebuhleni village, north of Durban. Shembe was the fourth successor to Isaiah Shembe, a Zulu healer who formed the church a century ago to infuse African tribalism into Christianity brought over by Western missionaries. Photo: Doctor Ngcobo, The Mercury
President Jacob Zuma, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize and IFP leader Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi attend the funeral of Shembe church leader Vimbeni Shembe at the Ebuhleni village, north of Durban. Shembe was the fourth successor to Isaiah Shembe, a Zulu healer who formed the church a century ago to infuse African tribalism into Christianity brought over by Western missionaries. Photo: Doctor Ngcobo, The Mercury
Members of the Shembe faith (Nazareth Baptist Church), a religious hybrid of Christianity and African traditions, attend the funeral of their leader Vimbeni Shembe at the Ebuhleni village, north of Durban. Shembe was the fourth successor to Isaiah Shembe, a Zulu healer who formed the church a century ago to infuse African tribalism into Christianity brought over by Western missionaries. Photo: Doctor Ngcobo, The Mercury
Members of the Shembe faith (Nazareth Baptist Church), a religious hybrid of Christianity and African traditions, attend the funeral of their leader Vimbeni Shembe at the Ebuhleni village, north of Durban. Shembe was the fourth successor to Isaiah Shembe, a Zulu healer who formed the church a century ago to infuse African tribalism into Christianity brought over by Western missionaries. Photo: Doctor Ngcobo, The Mercury
Published Apr 4, 2011
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The contribution of Nazareth Baptist Church (Shembe) leader Inkosi Vimbeni Mbusi Shembe to South Africa has been monumental, President Jacob Zuma told mourners at his funeral in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal. Shembe died of an undisclosed illness at his home at Ebuhleni village in Inanda. The SABC reported on Sunday that Mduduzi Shembe had been officially named his successor. Members of the church reportedly applauded the appointment, even though it differed from the name contained in an affidavit written by Vimbeni Shembe.
The church has four factions, three in KwaZulu-Natal and the fourth in Gauteng. Vimbeni Shembe led the largest faction.
