Shembe, Isaiah, -1935

Isaiah Shembe, the founder of the Nazarite Church, was born in the Free State, South Africa in c. 1867. His family were probably labour tenants on land near Harrismith. He appears to have attended services in a Wesleyan Church but later came under the influence of William Leshega of the African Baptist Church. He was baptised into this Church in 1906 and was ordained shortly afterwards. He rapidly built up a reputation as a preacher and healer and established his own church in Durban in 1910. This became the largest independent African church amongst the Zulu people. Many of his sayings were written down in Zulu and a number have been translated into English. Isaiah Shembe died in 1935. For further information see Elizabeth Gunner The man of heaven and the beautiful ones of God Brill: Leiden, 2002.

From the guide to the Shembe, Isaiah, c. 1932, (School of Oriental and African Studies)