''Isiguqo'' (

Zulu language Zulu (), or isiZulu as an endonym, is a Southern Bantu language of the Nguni branch spoken in Southern Africa. It is the language of the Zulu people, with about 12 million native speakers, who primarily inhabit the province of KwaZulu-Natal o ...

: ''place for kneeling'') is a religious practice derived from the

Zulu traditional religion Zulu traditional religion contains numerous deities commonly associated with animals or general classes of natural phenomena. Unkulunkulu is the highest god and is the creator of humanity. Unkulunkulu ("the greatest one") was created in Uhlanga ...

. It originally refers to a kneeling place on a holy hill which is approached by crawling towards it, and where a profoundly dignified prayer is performed. It has been adapted by syncretic religious movements in

Southern Africa Southern Africa is the southernmost subregion of the African continent, south of the Congo and Tanzania. The physical location is the large part of Africa to the south of the extensive Congo River basin. Southern Africa is home to a number of ...

such as the

Nazareth Baptist Church The Nazareth Baptist Church (Alternatively called "The Nazarite Church" "iBandla lamaNazaretha") is the second largest, African initiated church based in South Africa, founded in 1910. It reveres Shembe as a prophet sent by God to restore the t ...

, which uses this term to describe a kneeling prayer performed in times of hardship. In some Zionist churches, ''isiguqo'' manifests as a

prayer circle A prayer circle is most simply where participants join hands in a literal circle of prayer, often as part of a vigil. Informal prayer circles have been practiced for centuries. Their recent resurgence in popularity is frequently attributed to the ...

where dancing and healing takes place, and is regarded as a major form of worship. During the ceremony, members holding flags and staffs kneel reverently with their attention fixed on the preacher, who stands up positioned at the center of the circle.

References

See also