A Current Bibliography on African Affairs - Baywood Publishing

440 / A CURRENT BIBLIOGRAPHY ON AFRICAN AFFAIRS
of white identity issues, the discussion starts with a brief look at what constitutes identity
and what is memory’s function in constructing particular identities.
1490. Swart, I. MEETING THE RISING EXPECTATIONS? ON LOCAL
CHURCHES AS ORGANISATIONS OF SOCIAL WELFARE IN SOUTH AFRICA.
Journal of Theology for Southern Africa. 2009, 133:74-96.
In this article the notion of ‘rising expectations’ is taken as a conceptual framework to
develop a critical sociological perspective on the role of local churches as organisations of
social welfare in present-day South African society. Inspired in particular by Arthur E.
Farnsley’s recent work on developments in the welfare and religion context in the United
States, an argument is developed on two levels. On the one hand, it is pointed out how the
phenomenon of rising expectations captures a similar development regarding the churches’
role in social welfare both on the national and local levels of South African society.
1491. Ullucci, D. BEFORE ANIMAL SACRIFICE, A MYTH OF INNOCENCE.
Religion and Theology. 2008, 15:357-374.
Animal sacrifice was one of the most pervasive and socially significant practices of
Graeco-Roman religion. Yet, numerous Greek and Latin writers tell of a golden before the
advent of sacrifice and meat eating. In this idealized world, humans lived at one with the
gods and animal sacrifice did not exist. Such texts are often seen as part of a wider ancient
critique of Graeco-Roman religion in general and animal sacrifice in particular. This
interpretive model, largely sprung from Christian theologizing, sees animal sacrifice as a
meaningless and base act, destined to be superseded. As a result of this ‘critique model’,
scholars have not asked what the myth of a world without sacrifice means in a world in
which sacrifice predominated. This paper seeks to correct the above view by analyzing
these texts as instances of created myth. It approaches each occurrence of the myth as an
instance of position-taking by a player in the field of cultural production. The paper seeks to
further a redescription of Graeco-Roman antiquity by revealing the variety of ancient
positions on sacrifice and their strategic use by competing cultural producers.
1492. van den Heever, J. WEB 2.0: TECHNOLOGY FOR THE POSTMODERN
SENSIBILITY AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CHURCH. Journal of Theology for
Southern Africa. 2008, 132:86-107.
Web 2.0 is a new technology approach that in essence builds on the Internet’s existing
culture of collaboration and individual freedom. This article argues that Web 2.0 is both
creator and creation of the postmodern zeitgeist, with technology and social development
existing in a mutually reinforcing spiral. To minister effectively to the postmodern world,
the Church needs to understand how to use these new technologies and, more importantly,
respond to the new world they simultaneously reflect and create.
1493. Vaughan, M. ‘DIVINE KINGS’: SEX, DEATH AND ANTHROPOLOGY IN
INTER-WAR EAST/CENTRAL AFRICA. Journal of African History. 2008, 49:383-401.
The elaborate mortuary rites of the Chitimukulu (the paramount chief of the Bemba
people) attracted the attention of both colonial administrators and anthropologists in interwar
Northern Rhodesia. This paper examines the political and symbolic significance of