Religious transformation in the age of globalisation: A case study of Thohoyandou, South Africa (2015–2025)

Abstract

This research investigates religious transformation in Thohoyandou, Limpopo, South Africa, from 2015 to 2025, a period characterised by rapid globalisation and the proliferation of digital technology. The study employed a systematic desktop research technique to evaluate four principal data sources: peer-reviewed academic literature, papers from religious institutions, social media content from religious groups, and news media coverage. The study examines three fundamental enquiries: (1) In what ways has digital technology altered religious rituals and communication in Thohoyandou? How can religious practitioners navigate cultural authenticity in a globalised religious marketplace? How have religious institutions modified their organisational frameworks in response to local-global tensions? The results indicate three unique patterns of digital adoption among mainstream denominations, Pentecostal churches, and traditional Venda practitioners. Four strategies for cultural adaptation were identified: selective assimilation, parallel practice, creative translation, and selective retrenchment. Three types of institutional responses were identified: adaptive integration, protective conservation, and hybrid negotiation. The study revealed an approximate 450% increase in recorded digital religious activity among Thohoyandou congregations from 2015 to 2022, a disproportionate rise in new Pentecostal groups linked to international networks, and heightened documentation and revitalisation initiatives among adherents of traditional Venda religious heritage. The results enhance theoretical comprehension of religious hybridity, glocalization, and cultural resilience in post-colonial African settings, while providing practical direction for religious institutions managing local-global tensions in the digital age.

Keywords: {'name': 'Religious globalization; Cultural hybridity; Digital religion; Indigenous spirituality.'}

Authors & affiliations

Ndidzulafhi Mudau
University of Venda

Rendani Tshifhumulo
Affiliation not supplied

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