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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:The Lenten Pastoral Letter: a first public declaration of the hidden transcript
Author:Mijoga, Hilary B.P.ISNI
Year:1996-1997
Periodical:Journal of Humanities (ISSN 1016-0728)
Issue:10-11
Pages:55-68
Language:English
Notes:biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:Malawi
Central Africa
Subjects:Catholic Church
Church and State
politics
political science
Church
democracy
Abstract:The Lenten Pastoral Letter written by the Catholic bishops in Malawi in 1992 was the first public criticism of the regime of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) to be issued in the country since independence in 1964 and called for far-reaching social and political reform. Within a few days, the Letter was banned and branded seditious. The bishops were criticized and insulted, and there were even fears for their lives. Many Malawians supported the sentiments of the Letter and the church, and much of the Letter must be read as an echo of what Malawian Catholics had been telling their priests over the years. The present author argues that the Letter is an example of a first public declaration of a 'hidden transcript', characterizing the discourse within the subordinate group that takes place beyond direct observation by those holding power. To demonstrate this position, she uses the example of Mrs Poyser's speech in George Eliot's 'Adam Bede' as presented and analysed by James C. Scott in 'Domination and the Arts of Resistance: Hidden Transcripts' (1990). Note, ref.
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