From the Periphery to the Deep End: A Critique of Joshua Maponga’s Religio-Cultural Pedagogy
Peter Masvotore 
& Martin Mujinga
Issue: Vol.11 No. 6 2025 Issue Article 5 pp.293 – 304
DOI : https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.20251165 | Published online 19th June, 2025.
© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
A plethora of discourses have emerged on the religio-cultural pedagogy of Joshua Maponga, a Zimbabwean clergy. Maponga’s religious and cultural pedagogy has been oscillating from the periphery to the deep end. This dithering behaviour has drawn the attention of the writers of this paper, prompting questions about how Maponga manages to transition from one end to the other. The paper, therefore, sought to critically examine Joshua Maponga’s pedagogical thrust to ascertain his identity in line with his teachings and sermons available on his social media pages. This is the first scholarly research on Joshua Maponga. Using the theory of liminality, the paper presented Maponga’s identity and his religio-cultural pedagogy. The theory of liminality helped locate the life between Maponga’s extreme religious life and the far end of cultural identity. The findings highlighted the religio-cultural pedagogy of Maponga, which begins from the periphery and extends to the centre, ultimately reaching the deep end of becoming a hermit. The paper concluded by arguing that Maponga’s teachings and actions are antagonistic, and a contrast exists between his high theological pedagogy and his highly African traditional religiosity, resulting in another man whose identity is situated in the liminal space. The article presents the first scholarly research on Joshua Maponga, filling a knowledge gap and providing a foundation for future studies. It further contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities of religious and cultural identity, highlighting the need for critical examination and nuanced analysis.
Keywords: Deep End, Joshua Maponga, Pedagogy, Periphery, Religio-cultural
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Revd Dr. Peter Masvotore holds a PhD from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He is a Research Associate and Fellow at the Research Institute of Religion and Theology of the University of South Africa. He is the Immediate Past Academic Dean at United Theological College. Currently, he serves as a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Theology.
Revd Dr. Martin Mujinga holds a PhD from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He is a Research Associate and Fellow at the Research Institute of Religion and Theology of the University of South Africa. He is a researcher with numerous publications in books, book chapters, and peer-reviewed articles. Dr Mujinga is also a reviewer for more than ten journals. He serves as the General Secretary of the Africa Methodist Council.
Masvotore, Peter, and Martin Mujinga. “From the Periphery to the Deep End: A Critique of Joshua Maponga’s Religio-Cultural Pedagogy,” E-Journal of Religious and Theological Studies, 11 no.6 (2025): 293 – 304. https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.20251165
© 2025 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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