Robes of Resistance: Black Women, Church Uniforms, and Decolonial Identity in South African Independent Churches (AICs)
This article explores the socio-cultural, theological, and historical significance of church uniforms in African Independent Churches (AICs) in South Africa, with a focus on how black women navigate, reinterpret, and resist structures of power through religious dress. Adopting a qualitative and deco...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Africajournals
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Pharos Journal of Theology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.pharosjot.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/article_31_106_4__regular_issue_august.pdf |
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| _version_ | 1839612448767737856 |
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| author | Mercy Pheladi Bvuma |
| author_facet | Mercy Pheladi Bvuma |
| author_sort | Mercy Pheladi Bvuma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article explores the socio-cultural, theological, and historical significance of church uniforms in African Independent Churches (AICs) in South Africa, with a focus on how black women navigate, reinterpret, and resist structures of power through religious dress. Adopting a qualitative and decolonial research approach, the paper engages with lived experiences, archival insights, and theoretical frameworks to investigate how church uniforms function as tools of spiritual agency, communal identity, and cultural negotiation. Through historical analysis and theological reflection, the paper examines the evolution of church clothing from its colonial imposition to its contemporary reappropriation as a medium of liberation. Particular attention is given to intergenerational dynamics, gendered hierarchies, and the ways in which visual and embodied theologies are performed by black women in AICs such as the Zion Christian Church (ZCC), Saint John’s Apostolic Faith Mission (SJAFM), and the Sega Apostolic Church. The findings underscore the complex role of uniforms as both instruments of conformity and vehicles for resistance, highlighting their function in preserving sacred memory while also facilitating theological innovation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bf197e98d0a341f2831e0f84e212ac8b |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2414-3324 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Africajournals |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharos Journal of Theology |
| spelling | doaj-art-bf197e98d0a341f2831e0f84e212ac8b2025-07-28T09:16:44ZengAfricajournalsPharos Journal of Theology2414-33242025-08-011064https://doi.org/10.46222/pharosjot.106.4031Robes of Resistance: Black Women, Church Uniforms, and Decolonial Identity in South African Independent Churches (AICs)Mercy Pheladi Bvuma 0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4875-2036Communication Science University of South AfricaThis article explores the socio-cultural, theological, and historical significance of church uniforms in African Independent Churches (AICs) in South Africa, with a focus on how black women navigate, reinterpret, and resist structures of power through religious dress. Adopting a qualitative and decolonial research approach, the paper engages with lived experiences, archival insights, and theoretical frameworks to investigate how church uniforms function as tools of spiritual agency, communal identity, and cultural negotiation. Through historical analysis and theological reflection, the paper examines the evolution of church clothing from its colonial imposition to its contemporary reappropriation as a medium of liberation. Particular attention is given to intergenerational dynamics, gendered hierarchies, and the ways in which visual and embodied theologies are performed by black women in AICs such as the Zion Christian Church (ZCC), Saint John’s Apostolic Faith Mission (SJAFM), and the Sega Apostolic Church. The findings underscore the complex role of uniforms as both instruments of conformity and vehicles for resistance, highlighting their function in preserving sacred memory while also facilitating theological innovation.https://www.pharosjot.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/article_31_106_4__regular_issue_august.pdfafrican independent churches (aics)black womenchurch uniformsdecolonial theorygendervisual theologyspiritual embodimentcultural resiliencesouth africa |
| spellingShingle | Mercy Pheladi Bvuma Robes of Resistance: Black Women, Church Uniforms, and Decolonial Identity in South African Independent Churches (AICs) Pharos Journal of Theology african independent churches (aics) black women church uniforms decolonial theory gender visual theology spiritual embodiment cultural resilience south africa |
| title | Robes of Resistance: Black Women, Church Uniforms, and Decolonial Identity in South African Independent Churches (AICs) |
| title_full | Robes of Resistance: Black Women, Church Uniforms, and Decolonial Identity in South African Independent Churches (AICs) |
| title_fullStr | Robes of Resistance: Black Women, Church Uniforms, and Decolonial Identity in South African Independent Churches (AICs) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Robes of Resistance: Black Women, Church Uniforms, and Decolonial Identity in South African Independent Churches (AICs) |
| title_short | Robes of Resistance: Black Women, Church Uniforms, and Decolonial Identity in South African Independent Churches (AICs) |
| title_sort | robes of resistance black women church uniforms and decolonial identity in south african independent churches aics |
| topic | african independent churches (aics) black women church uniforms decolonial theory gender visual theology spiritual embodiment cultural resilience south africa |
| url | https://www.pharosjot.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/article_31_106_4__regular_issue_august.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mercypheladibvuma robesofresistanceblackwomenchurchuniformsanddecolonialidentityinsouthafricanindependentchurchesaics |