Abstract
Catholic monasticism in Europe is often associated with a crisis of vocations, of credibility and sometimes the question of closing down. Looking at monasteries outside Europe, especially in Asia and Africa, we observe a dynamic of new foundations and young entrants into the communities. What are the challenges for monasteries in Africa in future decades? To what extent does monasticism experience a gravitational shift from Europe to other continents in the next thirty years? This article seeks to explore the challenges of African monastic communities now and in the future. The first part gives some demographic data which shows the dynamism of African monastic communities. The second part deals with the adaption of monastic life in the local environment; for instance, concerning the liturgy but also the role of the development of monastic communities. In the last part, I discuss the challenges of African monasticism, which is becoming autonomous from its European founders and developing more and more indigenous foundations. This article is based on field inquiries conducted in monastic communities in five countries in Africa between 2013 and 2019.
Highlights
Monasticism in Europe is often associated with a crisis of vocations, of credibility and sometimes the question of closing down
Monastic life in Africa plays an important role in the development of its region, as we can observe it in the long history of monasticism on other continents; for instance, in Europe in the Middle Ages
Despite the apparent dynamism of its communities, African monasticism is presently confronted with diverse challenges which will decide whether this monasticism can really take root in this continent in future decades
Summary
Monasticism in Europe is often associated with a crisis of vocations, of credibility and sometimes the question of closing down. I have studied contemporary Catholic monastic life in seven countries in Europe, Argentina, and five countries in Africa, but I will focus here on African monasticism. This article is based on multilocal empiric inquiries with half-structured interviews and participant observations in Catholic monasteries in Togo, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Benin. The Benedictine family can be seen as a representative example for such research as it is the most widespread monastic rule worldwide for Roman Catholic monasteries and includes both male and female communities. It comprises three main orders: Benedictine, Cistercian and Trappist. (four interviews); the male Trappist monastery of Kokoubou, founded by the French abbey of Bellefontaine in 1972 (four interviews); and the female Trappist monastery of L’Etoile Parakou, founded by the French abbey of Notre-Dame des Gardes in 1960 (nine interviews)
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