Alice Lenshina (c. 1920-1978) founded a large religious sect in Africa called the Lumpa Church.
Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know -- but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Pioneers, Dreamers, Villainesses, STEMinists, Warriors & Social Justice Warriors, and many more. Encyclopedia Womannica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures.
Encyclopedia Womannica was created by Liz Kaplan and Jenny Kaplan, executive produced by Jenny Kaplan, and produced by Liz Smith, Cinthia Pimentel, and Grace Lynch. Special thanks to Shira Atkins and Edie Allard. Theme music by Andi Kristins.
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Hello! From Wonder Media Network, I’m Jenny Kaplan. And this is Encyclopedia Womannica.
In case you’re just tuning in, here’s the deal! Every weekday, we’re telling the stories of women from throughout history and around the world who you may not know about, but definitely should. Each month is themed and this month is all about Witches & Saints.
Throughout history, women have been celebrated and condemned for wielding spiritual power. This month, we're highlighting women who made incredible contributions to and through religions, as well as those who were charged and punished for alleged heresies or supernatural abilities.
Today’s historical woman created a religious movement that exploded in popularity, gaining tens of thousands of devoted followers in only a matter of years before becoming embattled in conflict. We’re talking about Alice Mulenga Lenshina.
Alice Mulenga Lenshina was born around 1920, in a village in Northern Rhodesia, which is now part of Zambia. At the time of Alice’s birth, the country had recently been colonized by the British South Africa Company. It became a Protectorate of the British Empire in 1924. Christian missionaries had long had a strong presence in the region.
Alice’s life as a religious leader began after she fell ill with malaria in 1953. She was in a coma and when she woke up, she claimed she had gone to heaven and met either Jesus, God, or an angel, who commanded her to start carrying out God’s will on Earth. Alice brought this story to the local Church of Scotland Missionaries and they baptized her into the church.
A year later, Alice was holding services of her own. By 1955, Alice’s teachings stood out from the Church of Scotland, and her preaching drew large crowds. Her budding religious sect blended aspects of European Christianity and African religion, which actually somewhat common at the time. She put a strong emphasis on hymns inspired by traditional African music, and she claimed that witchcraft was real and combattable with her teachings.
Alice’s religious group became its own sect called the Lumpa Church. It had a following of more than 50,000 people by 1956. Members came from a variety of backgrounds -- rural and urban, workers and farmers.
The Lumpa church banned things like divorce, dancing, drinking, and witchcraft. Alice held a lot of power. She was the only one who could baptize prospective followers. Some hymns even seemed to depict her as a savior.
Throughout the 1950’s and early 1960’s, the Lumpa church was highly political and involved in Northern Rhodesia’s independence movement. By 1963, the church mostly called on its members to withdraw from political battles. Lumpa church members had to maintain full loyalty to the tenants of the church over the laws of the colonial state. According to Alice’s teachings, the end of the world was drawing near and the Lumpa community had to separate from society to focus inward. Because of this adherence to their own independence over the country’s laws, conflict brewed between the church’s members and Northern Rhodesia’s various political groups.
In July of 1964, battles erupted between the Lumpa church and the United National Independence Party, one of the more militant Northern Rhodesian groups pursuing independence. The Lumpa Church fought with spears, axes, and other indigenous weapons, against the automatic firearms of the United National Independence Party soldiers. State forces had to step in and break up the conflicts, which lasted several weeks and claimed the lives of over 700 people.
Not long after, Northern Rhodesia gained independence, though the Lumpa Church was banned and 15,000 members were forced to flee the country. Alice gave herself up to police in August of 1964.
Alice and her husband managed to escape prison in 1967, but they were quickly recaptured. While she was in jail, authorities destroyed the extravagant temple that had been her church headquarters in her home village. Alice was released on house arrest in 1975, and remained under close watch until her death in December of 1978.
Alice was buried on the former site of her church.
Today, the Lumpa Church is believed to have split into several different sects. Scattered remnants of Alice Lenshina’s influence remain in Zambia even today.
Tune in tomorrow for the story of another notable, spiritual woman from history.
Special thanks to Liz Kaplan, my favorite sister and co-creator.
Talk to you tomorrow!