Ifimbusa

Ifimbusa

Fingers of Thomas

Fingers of Thomas

FENZA Activities and Groups

FENZA activities are open to all interested people. You are welcome to join.

FENZA conference on Dreams (part 2)

Date: 7 March 2012, 14:00 - 17:00 hours

Dreams are important in Zambia. Dreams can encourage, frighten, raise suspicions, reconfirm. Some see in dreams a mirror to their own heart and soul, others a gateway to the unseen world surrounding us. Some discern in dreams their own fears and wishes, others the voices of demons and witchcraft, others the voice of God.

Some try to ignore the world of dreams; others look for traditional answers and meanings, others for answers from Western psychology, others for answers from the Bible. Do the different approaches meet?

In this second conference on dreams you are invited to come with your own dreams. A panel of different people will answer questions concerning your dreams: reflecting cultural traditions, psychological traditions, and Biblical traditions.

Fingers of Thomas

The name of the group comes from the apostle Thomas (the "doubting Thomas") who insisted to make his own experiences rather than merely relying on other people's testimonies.

Initially the group was formed to investigate rumours of witchcraft and Satanism, especially among the youths.

Through the many contacts with diverse churches and faiths, the group developed a keen interest in visiting and praying with people of different churches and faiths, "to put the finger" and see how different people experience their faith and the spiritual world.

The Fingers of Thomas meet every Wednesday, 17:30 hours in Regiment Parish. The "Madalas" meet on Fridays (1st and 3rd Friday each month) in Regiment Parish at 17:00 hours.

More information on the Fingers of Thomas

Film produced by the Fingers of Thomas in conjunction with CMSTV (Satanism: An Eye Witness Account)

Ifimbusa

A group of Christian traditional midwives & initiators (women and men), with a keen and open interest in Zambian initiation rites, pass on their knowledge to interested groups and individuals (marriage instructions, teachings...). As the name suggest, the group "grew up" with Bemba rites, but they are interested in initiation rites all over Zambia. The instructors meet once a month. From time to time they organise study sessions for themselves. Teaching sessions for interested groups usually last between 3 and 5 days (and nights). For schools they also give short "sessions" lasting usually a day.

Click here for more information on the group

FENZA group of Ethno-Psychiatrists

A group of traditional healers meet regularly in FENZA to share their knowledge about treating mental illnesses. Traditional healers have been sidelined by the Christian churches in Zambia, yet many healers have a lot to offer, also in areas where Western medicines have failed to provide treatment that is adapted to the Zambian reality. The group is coordinated by Fr. Patrick Mumbi.

For more information, write to the director@fenza.org

Workshops and Seminars

FENZA hosts various teams who offer workshops and seminars on cultural and religious topics, conducted with reference to people's backgrounds and expectations. Time-frame and ways of running the workshops are flexible. FENZA teams can be called for workshops at Parish, Deanery and Diocesan levels, but also to schools, colleges and other institutions. Seminars can be held in English, Bemba or Nyanja. FENZA promotes a multi-dimensional and dialogical approach to pastoral, cultural and religious issues, and has an ecumenical focus. So far we have offered workshops on the following topics:

All workshops are pastorally oriented. FENZA is a non-profit making organisation. Fees are usually asked to meet the expenses of the workshops, but we try to keep the fees as low as possible. We aim at wide and varied participation.

FENZA research

Where mandated, FENZA carries out specific research on cultural and religious topics in Zambia. In the Document Section you may find some of the research reports.