- Title: DRC: Christmas comes in May for Congolese sect.
- Date: 28th May 2013
- Summary: KINSHASA, DRC (MAY 25, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PARADE OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN FOLLOWERS OF KIMBANGUISM IN THE STREETS OF KINSHASA PLAYING AND MUSIC POLICEMAN DIRECTING TRAFFIC TO FACILITATE THE PARADE IN THE STREETS WITH A BANNER BEHIND HIM IN FRENCH READING: "MERRY CHRISTMAS" BANNER IN FRENCH READING: "MAY 25, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL" (SOUNDBITE) (French) BASSONBO GERMA
- Embargoed: 12th June 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Congo, The Democratic Republic of the
- Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of
- Topics: Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA2HHTNESU9W7BSIYMKEYONJ2ZK
- Story Text: Over a million followers of Kimbanguism, a sectarian branch of Christianity in the Democratic Republic of Congo, celebrated Christmas this past weekend, which by Kimbanguism teachings falls on May 25. The church, which was created by Simon Kimbangu in 1921, shuns politics, rejects the use of violence and witchcraft, and has an estimated 5.5 million followers.
Followers of the Church of Kimbanguism are Christians, but they march to the beat of a different drum.
Wearing green for hope and white for purity, thousands of members of the Kimbanguist church paraded through the streets of the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital, Kinshasa on Saturday (May 25) singing and playing music to commemorate the birth of Jesus.
According to their teachings, followers of Kimbanguism celebrate Christmas on May 25 instead of December 25, the date most other Christian denominations around the globe fete the birth of Christ.
The church was founded in 1921, by Simon Kimbangu, a self-styled healer and prophet in what was then known as the Congo Free State, under Belgian colonial rule.
Kimbanguism which was funded on the principles of embracing purity, and rejecting the use of violence, polygamy, alcohol and tobacco, has grown to have an estimated 5.5 million believers, mainly concentrated in central Africa.
During the Christmas ceremony, people are encouraged to join the all-day ceremony, as a marching band drums up enthusiasm through the streets of Kinshasa.
For Kimbanguists, this is one of the most important dates on the church's calendar and one that should be recognized world-wide.
"Today is Christmas, but it's not only for Kimbanguists, it's really well-known in the entire world. But if there are people who are going around saying that it is only a day for Kimbanguists to celebrate, then they are ignorant," said Bassonbo Germain Fidel.
But despite doubts about the unconventional timing of their Christmas festivities, Kimbanguists say that they are guided by the church's teachings.
"Based on the Bible and prayer, the Kimbanguists discovered that the true date of birth of Jesus Christ is May 25. Because everyone knows the December 25 date, that is the conventional date, but it is not the true date of the birth of Jesus Christ. Even Pope Benedict 16 who just left office, he declared that December 25 is a date without historical foundations," said a representative from the Church, Surbens Swalenoc.
For years, members of the Church as well as founder Simon Kimbangu were persecuted by colonial authorities for their unconventional beliefs, and Kimbangu died in prison in 1951, after 30 years of incarceration.
But in 1959, the government officially recognized the Church and today they are accepted by their fellow Christians in Kinshasa - albeit somewhat reluctantly at times.
"We cannot change what they have believed for so long, and replace it with other belief, that is not possible. It's like in mathematics; it can be compared to an axiom, like the formulas that do not change," said Isaac Bassiamissa, a member of the Church of the Awakening of Congo.
Despite the difference in dates for the celebration of Christianity's most important day, Kimbanguists say they are just as Christian as any other church member in the world.
"The Catholic Church, Protestant, Salvationist; these are just adjectives, first of all it is the Church that counts, therefore we are all Christians. We, the Kimbanguists, we are Christians, so no church can pretend to have a monopoly on Christianity, we are all Christians," he said.
The Christmas festivities culminated in feasts of eating, praying ad dancing at a centre in Kinshasa. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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