Quaker women in Kenya have found a way of expressing their faith through the “Kuhambiza itaya” (Lighting the lamp) ritual. This ritual symbolizes the Quaker belief in the inner light or light within every person. The Inner light is the principle that there is “that of God” or the “seed of light” in everyone. For the Kenyan Quaker women, this light is expressed through the servant-leadership of their fellow women in socio-cultural and religious domains. The ceremony celebrates the exemplary service and achievements of the women who are given leadership responsibilities through the auspices of the Quaker church. Kuhambiza itaya amalgamates Quaker and African cultural traditions while at the same time utilizing modern artifacts (Lantern lamp) as an expression of existential spirituality.
This study examines the intersection of Quaker existential spirituality and cultural practices among Kenyan Quaker women as exemplified in the Kuhambiza Itaya ritual. This ceremony, steeped in cultural and spiritual symbolism, offers a unique way to explore the localization of a global religious tradition imbued with existential meaning. This ritual raises pertinent questions on how spirituality is experienced, interpreted, and lived out in ways that reflect existential concerns and cultural identity.
The findings discussed in this study are based on field research conducted in Western Kenya, where the Quaker church is prevalent owing to the influence of Quaker missionaries who set up their mission station in the area in 1902. Conclusions are drawn from personal interviews, focused group discussions, and participant observations of the ritual and attendant ceremonies linked to it. The research is premised on Webster’s (2009) theory of existential spirituality, which describes how individuals participate in experiences and actively give their lives meaning and purposes through their relations with others.
Keywords: Cultural integration; Existential Spirituality; Inner light; Kuhambiza Itaya; Servant leadership; Kenyan Quaker women.
Quaker women in Kenya express their faith through the “Kuhambiza itaya” (Lighting the lamp) ritual, symbolizing the Quaker belief in the inner light—the idea that everyone carries “that of God” within them. This ceremony celebrates women’s servant-leadership in socio-cultural and religious spheres, honoring their exemplary service and achievements within the Quaker church. Blending Quaker spirituality with African cultural traditions, the ritual uses modern artifacts like the lantern lamp to embody existential spirituality. This study explores how Kenyan Quaker women integrate Quaker existential spirituality with cultural practices through Kuhambiza itaya, highlighting the localization of a global religious tradition. Conducted in Western Kenya, where Quakerism has deep roots since 1902, the research employs field studies, interviews, focus group discussions, and participant observations. Grounded in Webster’s (2009) theory of existential spirituality, it examines how individuals derive meaning and purpose through relational experiences, offering insights into the ritual’s cultural and spiritual significance.