Degrees Held
- Phd, University of Cape Town, 2001
- MA, University of Cape Town, 1994
- HDE (Secondary), University of Cape Town, 1994
- BA (Honours) (Religious Studies), University of Cape Town, 1990
- BA (Honours) (Social Anthropology), University of Cape Town, 1990
- BA, University of Cape Town, 1988
Research Interests
- African Traditional Religion
- African Culture and Philosophy
- African Intellectual History
- African Independent/ Indigenous Churches
- New Religious Movements
- Comparative Religion
Teaching
- African Traditional Religion, African Christianity
- Comparative Religion
- Sociology of Religion
- Theory and Method in the Study of Religion
- Religion, Gender and Sexuality
Selected Publications
Journal Articles
Chapters in Books
Book Reviews
Journal Articles
- Ndlovu, J. and Masondo, S., 2025. Church leaders as agents of peace: Transforming political violence through the gospel. Verbum et Ecclesia, 46(1): 1-15. https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v46i1.3577
- Masondo, Sibusiso. 2025. Worship at Ibandla LamaNazaretha (Nazarite Baptist Church) of Isaiah Shembe: An African Heritage and Innovation. Religion & Theology, 32: 72–98. https://doi.org/10.1163/15743012-bja10094
- Musoni, P. and Masondo, S. 2024. A Historical Survey on the Church’s Involvement in Peace Initiative Frameworks in Zimbabwe: Post-Mugabe Era. Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae, 50(2): 1-15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/17190
- Kgari-Masondo, MC & Masondo, S. 2019. “For Peace Sake”: African Language and Xenophobia in South Africa. Journal of African Foreign Affairs (JoAFA), 6(3): 87-102. ISSN 2056-5658 (Online) ISSN 2056-564X (Print); DOI: https://doi.org/10.31920/2056-5658/2019/6n3a5
- Masondo, Sibusiso. 2018. “Ironies of Christian Presence in Southern Africa”. Journal for the Study of Religion 31(2): 209-231, Online ISSN 2413-3027; DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2413-3027/2018/v31n2a10
- Masondo, Sibusiso. 2017. “Why do you hate me so much? An Exploration of Religious Freedom from the perspective of African Religion(s)”. HTS Theological Studies, 73(3), a4628. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v73i3.4628
- Masondo, Sibusiso. 2015. “Indigenous conceptions of conversion among African Christians in South Africa”. Journal for the Study of Religion, 28(2): 87-112. Available at: http://www.scielo.org.za/pdf/jsr/v28n2/05.pdf
- Masondo, Sibusiso. 2015. “Prophets never die?: The story of Bishop PJ Masango of the St John’s Apostolic Faith Mission”. Alternation, 14: 231-246. Available at: http://alternation.ukzn.ac.za/Files/docs/22.3/12%20Masondo.pdf
- Masondo, Sibusiso. 2014. “African Indigenous Churches’ spiritual resources for democracy and social cohesion”. Verbum et Ecclessia, 35(3): 1-8. Available at: http://www.scielo.org.za/pdf/vee/v35n3/08.pdf
- Masondo, Sibusiso. 2014. “The Growth Model for Managing Change in African Christianity: a case of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in a Cape Town Township”. Studia Historia Ecclesiasticae, 40(2): 189-206. Available at: http://www.scielo.org.za/pdf/she/v40n2/13.pdf
- Masondo, Sibusiso. 2013. “The Crisis Model for Managing Change in African Christianity: The Story of St John’s Apostolic Church”. Exchange, 42: 157-174. Available at: https://brill.com/abstract/journals/exch/42/2/article-p157_4.xml
- Masondo, Sibusiso. 2011. “African Traditional Religion in the face of secularism in South Africa”. Focus: The Journal of the Helen Suzman Foundation, 62: 32-38. Available at: https://hsf.org.za/publications/focus/focus-62/Sibusiso%20Masondo_African%20Traditional%20Religion.pdf
- Masondo, Sibusiso. 2005. “The History of African Indigenous Churches in Scholarship”. Journal for the Study of Religion, 18(2): 89-103. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jsr.v18i2.6172; On UKZN JSTOR platform: https://www-jstor-org.ukzn.idm.oclc.org/stable/pdf/10.2307/24764358.pdf
- Masondo, Sibusiso. 2004. “Three generations of Shembe: Leadership contests within the Nazareth Baptist Church”. Journal of Theology for Southern Africa.118, 69-79.
- Masondo, Sibusiso. 2002. “Models of change in African Christianity: South African case studies”. Journal for the Study of Religion, 15(2): 145-166. On UKZN JSTOR Platform: https://www-jstor-org.ukzn.idm.oclc.org/stable/pdf/10.2307/24764374.pdf
Chapters in Books
- Masondo, Sibusiso. 2023. “Blessing Seekers or Bounty Hunters?: The Case of the Followers of Prosperity Preachers in South Africa”. MS Kgatle, C. Banda, A. Reddie (eds.) African New Prophetic Pentecostalism and Human Flourishing: A South African Perspective. New York: Peter Lang Group, 143-158. https://www.peterlang.com/document/1290328#:~:text=Summary,spiritual%20meaning%20to%20their%20lives.
- Masondo, Sibusiso. 2023. “Demons or divinities? The role and place of ancestors in the contemporary church in South Africa”. H. Taruona, S. Kumalo, & H. Moyo (eds.) Anthology of Pastoral Ministry and Leadership. Pietermaritzburg: Cluster Publications, 419-436.
- Masondo, Sibusiso. 2020. Challenges and Prospects for African Religions in South Africa. Chammah Kaunda and Julius Gathongo (eds.) African Theology, Philosophy and Religions: Celebrating John Samuel Mbiti’s Contribution. Lanham; Boulder; New York; London: Lexington Books, 285-300. https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781793630278/African-Theology-Philosophy-and-Religions-Celebrating-John-Samuel-Mbiti%E2%80%99s-Contribution
- Masondo, Sibusiso. 2018 “Umuntu Akalahlwa: An Exploration of an African Ethics”. Roderick Hewitt and Chammah Kaunda (eds.) WHO IS AN AFRICAN? Race, Identity, and Destiny in Post-Apartheid South Africa. Lanham; Boulder; New York; London: Lexington Books/ Fortress Academic, 111-123. Available at: https://www.amazon.com/Who-African-Identity-Destiny-Post-apartheid/dp/1978700547
- Masondo, Sibusiso. 2015. “Theological Biography of Bishop Manas Buthelezi”. Hanns Lessing, Tilman Dedering, Jürgen Kampmann, Dirkie Smit (eds.) Contested Relations Protestantism between Southern Africa and Germany from the 1930s to the Apartheid Era, Wiesbaden, Pietermaritzburg: Harrassowitz Verlag, Cluster Publications, 376-387. http://www.harrasswitz-verlag.de http://clustepublications.co.za
- Masondo, Sibusiso. 2011. “The Practice of African Traditional Religion in Contemporary South Africa”. TW Bennett (ed.) Traditional African Religions in South African Law. Cape Town: UCT Press, 19-36. Contents page available at: https://juta.co.za/law/products/16492-traditional-african-religions-in-south-african-law/
- Masondo, Sibusiso. 2007. “Religion and Spirituality in South Africa”. Rory Bester (ed.) Figure/ Ground: Reflections on the South African Reserve Bank Art collection. Johannesburg: South African Reserve Bank, 140-144.
- Masondo, Sibusiso. 2006. “African Pentecostalism”. In Wuthnow, R. (ed.): Encyclopedia of Politics and Religion. London & New York: Routledge. On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Politics-Religion-2-set/dp/0415187400
- Masondo, Sibusiso. 2004. “Apartheid”. In Palmer-Fernandez, G. (ed.): Encyclopedia of Religion and War. New York, London: Routledge, 16-20. ON Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Religion-War-Society/dp/0415942462
- Masondo, Sibusiso. 2004. “Models of Change in African Christianity: South African case studies”. Abdulkader Tayob, Wolfram Wiesse, and David Chidester (eds.) Religion, Politics, and Identity in a changing South Africa. Munster: Waxmann, 161-181. ISSN 1437-4641 ISBN 3-8309-1328-1 https://books.google.co.za/books?hl=en&lr=&id=96AoZ5lcMFsC&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=Religion,+Politics,+and+Identity+in+a+changing+South+Africa&ots=zwXjzbK69_&sig=rfkQ9JxTdoVrzWxXcsl0zhB9p6I#v=onepage&q=Religion%2C%20Politics%2C%20and%20Identity%20in%20a%20changing%20South%20Africa&f=false
- Masondo, Sibusiso. 2003. “Religious Freedom in South Africa”. In Cookson, Catherine (ed.): Encyclopedia of Religious Freedom. New York, London: Berkshire/ Routledge. eISBN: 978-1-61472-868-9.
Book Reviews
- A Problem of Presence: Beyond Scripture in an African Church. By Matthew Engelke. Journal of the American Academy of Religion, 76(2):507-509, 2008
- A History of Christianity in Africa: From Antiquity to the Present. Journal for the Study of Religion 12 (1/2), 134-137, 1999.
Community Involvement
- Cornerstone School of the Spirit is the project of the Cornerstone Church led by Pastors Mervin and Sharon Naidoo in Chatsworth. They have opened a no-fee Bible School and have attracted interest from students in the wider Durban area. They currently have over 400 students. I was invited to advise them on what to do to gain accreditation. I have also been invited on two occasions to their graduation ceremonies as a keynote speaker. Students appreciate what the school has been able to offer them in terms of their knowledge of the Bible and how to interpret it in their context
- The Maurice Webb Memorial Trust acknowledges and funds organizations and people doing work in the area of race relations in South Africa. I have been involved in the assessment of applications and funding proposals.
- The invitation in 2014 by the Law Reform Commission to participate as a member of the Advisory Committee: Review of the Witchcraft Suppression Act 3 of 1957, provided me an opportunity to contribute to thinking about this legislation from the perspectives of Africans. My contribution was mainly on the prevalence and impact of belief in witchcraft in African communities.
- Both Dr Nokuzola Mndende (Umhlobo Wenene FM) and Dr Velaphi Mkhize (Ukhozi FM) have interviewed me in their radio programs on the teaching and research on African Religion in Institutions of Higher learning in South Africa. Journalists have also approached me from various radio stations and publications for comment on issues about African religion and African Christianity.
Academic Participation
- I serve on the advisory board of Alternations. My expertise as a researcher and writer is evidenced by the acknowledgment by various journal editors of my leadership role in the field of Religion in Africa. I have served as a reviewer of several journals including the Journal of Theology for Southern Africa, Journal for the Study of Religion, Alternation, Acta Theologica, Journal of Gender and Religion in Africa, Missionalia, Verbum et Ecclessia, Theologia Viatorum, and Indigenous Knowledge: Other Ways of Knowing.
- I have been a member of the Association for the Study of Religion in Southern Africa (ASRSA) since 2010. In 2017 I was elected Vice-President. In 2018, I was Chair of the organizing committee of ASRSA 40th Congress that was held at UKZN. Vice-President, Association for the Study of Religion in Southern Africa (ASRSA), 2017- 2019. President, Association for the Study of Religion in Southern Africa (ASRSA), 2019-2021.
- External Examiner: I have served as an External examiner for MA and PhD dissertations at Stellenbosch, Fort Hare, UCT, UNISA, and the University of Pretoria
- External Examiner for Undergraduate and Honour Courses for UCT, University of Mpumalanga
Teaching Expertise
- Sociology of Religion
- Introduction to Religion
- Women in Religion and Culture
- African Religion and History
- Religions of Africa
- African Systems of Thought
- Oral & Written Sacred Texts
- Method & Theory in Religion & Culture
- Method & Theory in Religion & Theology
- Religion, Gender & Sexuality
Conference Proceedings
Masondo, Sibusiso. 2012. “Ironies of Christian presence in Africa”. German Evangelical Churches in colonial Southern Africa: A conference to mark the end of the Study Process on the role of the German Protestant work overseas in colonial southern Africa up to the 1920s, Hofgeismar, 28 – 30 September 2011, no. 8. Frankfurt. February 2012, 7-13.
Student Supervision
Honours
Masters
PhD
Honours
- Simiso Ntobela, 2025, A Theological Framework for Leadership Succession in the African Independent Churches: A Case Study of Isambulo Christian Church in Zion (ICCZ)
- Vukile Shembe, 2021, A Misunderstood Phenomenon: The Biblical Influences on The Prophet Isiah Shembe’s Doctrine
- Kholiwe Mkwanazi, 2020, The impact of colonialism in Africa religious beliefs
Masters
- Georges Roger Bidzongo (Co- with Dr. Vencatsamy), 2022, Sociological impact of Curses and Cursing among the Parishioners of St Pater’s Parish, Durban: The Judeo-Christian perspective
- Sabelo Ndumo (Co-supervision with Dr Meyer), 2016, The Sound of Sacrifice: Hearing the Homily to the Hebrews with Zulu
- Ida Maria Heglund, 2011,
- Leah Brumer, 2009, Theories of religion and the Great Xhosa Cattle-Killing Movement of 1856-1857
- Kondolo Kapembwa, 2008, The spread of the African Independent Churches in postcolonial Southern Africa is a challenge to political and religious authorities: a case of the Lumpa Church in Zambia
PhD
- Anne Thembekile Mkwanazi (co-supervised with Prof Denis), 2026, Transforming grace: Spirituality of healing in the Roman Catholic tradition among African (AmaZulu) women in KwaZulu-Natal
- James Ndlovu (co-supervised with Dr Sitoto), 2025, The role of church leaders in mitigating political violence in Zimbabwe’s second republic: A prophetic or patronized voice?
- Pheko Thinane, 2025, The Meaning of healing in the Gospel of Mark vs The Testimony of Hadebe: A correlation and comparison
- Lindiwe Promise Khuzwayo Magwaza, 2021, Africa indigenous same sexualities in a democratic society: A case study of rural women in KwaZulu-Natal
- Tenson Muyambo (co-supervised with Prof Siwila), 2019, Indigenous Knowledge Systems of the Ndau people of Manicaland province in Zimbabwe: A case of Bota reshupa
- Tiyanane Matumbu, 2019, Puberty rites as cultural responses to the prevention of HIV and AIDS in Zimbabwe: the case of VaRemba circumcision and initiation rite in Mwenezi District
- Nomatter Sande (co-supervised with Dr Okyere-Manu), 2018, Pastoral Ministry and The Disabled: A Critical Investigation of How Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) Church Can Be A Safe Space For Meeting the Needs of People with Disability (PWD) in Harare Zimbabwe
- Clemence Makamure, 2018, A Phenomenological Study on the causes of Leadership disputes in the Zion Apostolic Faith Mission (ZAFM) in Zimbabwe
- Clifford Mushishi, 2010, Aspect of Budya traditional religion which promote human rights