From the Periphery to the Deep End: A Critique of Joshua Maponga’s Religio-Cultural Pedagogy

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