Introduction: Religion and Public Health in the Shadow of COVID-19 Pandemic in Southern Africa / Fortune Sibanda, Tenson Muyambo and Ezra Chitando -- Exploring the Ethics of Ubuntu in the Era of COVID-19 / Beatrice Okyere-Manu & Stephen Nkansah Morgan -- Social Distancing in the Context of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe: Perspectives from Ndau Religious Indigenous Knowledge Systems / Tenson Muyambo -- Coping with the Coronavirus (COVID 19): Resources from Ndau Indigenous Religion / Macloud Sipeyiye -- Living with COVID-19 in Zimbabwe: A Religious and Scientific Healing Response / Bernard Pindukai Humbe -- Religion, Law and COVID-19 in South Africa / Helena Van Coller & Idowu A Akinloye -- Tele-evangelism, Tele-health and Cyberbullying in the wake of the outbreak of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe / Lucia Ponde-Mutsvedu & Sophia Chirongoma -- The Role of Religion in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic Challenges in Tanzania / Paskas Wagana -- COVID-19 Containment Measures and 'Prophecies' in Kenya / Julius Gathogo -- Christian Religious Understandings and Responses to COVID-19 in Eswatini / Sonene Nyawo -- Standing together in Faith through the time of COVID-19: The Responses of Church Umbrella Bodies in Zambia / Nelly Mwale & Joseph Chita -- Churches and COVID-19 in Botswana / Tshenolo J. Madigele & James N. Amanze -- The Coronavirus Pandemic and Persons with Disabilities: Towards a Liberating Reading of the Bible for Churches in Southern Africa / Makomborero Allen Bowa -- The Influence of Health Perceptions on Zimbabwe Muslim Responses to COVID-19 Restrictions over Ramadan, Pilgrimages and Funeral Rites in 2020 / Edmore Dube -- Repositioning the Agency of Rastafari in the Context of COVID-19 Crisis in Zimbabwe and Malawi / Fortune Sibanda -- 'When a Pandemic Wears the Face of a Woman': Intersections of Religion and Gender during the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe / Molly Manyonganise -- Religion and COVID-19 in Southern Africa: Implications for the Discourse on Religion and Development / Ezra Chitando.

"This book investigates the role of religion in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Southern Africa. Building on a diverse range of methodologies and disciplinary approaches, the book reflects on how religion, politics and health have interfaced in Southern African contexts, when faced with the sudden public health emergency caused by the pandemic. Religious actors have played a key role on the frontline throughout the pandemic, sometimes posing roadblocks to public health messaging, but more often deploying their resources to help provide effective and timely responses. Drawing on case studies from African Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Islam, Rastafari and various forms of Christianity, this book provides important reflections on the role of religion in crisis response. This book will be of interest to researchers across the fields of African Studies, Health, Politics, and Religious Studies"-- Provided by publisher.

OCLC-licensed vendor bibliographic record.