Early African Christianity–A Thematic Analysis

Aidan Kwame Ahaligah

doi:10.38159/erats.2020084

Abstract

This article is devoted to a thematic analysis of early or ancient African Christianity and its influence on ecclesial practices and thinking in contemporary Africa. Drawing on literature in the history of the church in antiquity this paper re-tells the story of how Africa and Africans in the first millennium developed and shaped World Christianity. Specifically, it discusses the contributions made to the early Church by the African Fathers of the faith, Origen and Augustine. The paper contest sentiments and perceptions that Christianity is a “white mans” religion and to reclaim African Christianity’s identity as a global religious culture which has existed since antiquity. Moreover, it argues that a lot is lost, with its attendant misinterpretations, when Christianity in Africa is only viewed as a result of the fruits of the nineteenth-century missionary activities. The paper contributes to the study of African Church history, the contextualisation/inculturation of the gospel, and African theology.

Highlights

By early Africa, this Author is referring, primarily to the Roman province know as Africa Proconsularis, but he secondarily includes the entire region of North Africa west of Aegyptius (Egypt)
African Christianity is often related to the nineteenth century missionary enterprise which unwittingly has led to the perception that it is a Western or “white man’s” religion
The North African Church of the early centuries, the Coptic Church of Egypt as well as the Ethiopian Orthodox Church should all be seen as manifestations of the on-going history of Christianity on the Ahaligah, Aidan K., / E-Journal of Religious and Theological Studies Vol

Summary

Introduction

By early Africa, this Author is referring, primarily to the Roman province know as Africa Proconsularis, but he secondarily includes the entire region of North Africa west of Aegyptius (Egypt). Drawing on literature in the history of the church in antiquity this paper re-tells the story of how Africa and Africans in the first millennium developed and shaped World Christianity.

Results

Conclusion