HISTORY, TEXT AND HERMENEUTICS: A BLACK THEOLOGY APPRAISAL OF JUDGES 12:1-6 TRANSLATIONS INTO AFRICAN LANGUAGES

Abstract

The recent and recurring xenophobia/Afrophobia1 in the democratic South Africa contradicts the notion of God�s preferential option for the poor and the Church�s critical solidarity with the poor. The contradiction was exacerbated by the institutionalization of the notion of the Church�s critical solidarity with the state.2 It is in particular a disgrace to the liberating and humanizing legacy of Black Theology in South Africa. This essay reflects on language particularly Bible translation in the incitement of prejudice, stigma, discrimination and violence amongst Black South Africans during the colonial apartheid dispensation3 and now towards the Black African Other4 in the democratic South Africa. In dialogue with the Afrikaans Bible translation it underscores the need to learn from the lessons of the Afrikaners who fought against colonialism and imperialism in order to avoid the pitfalls of becoming the domestic oppressors. Towards that end the essay engages in critical reflection on the Bible translation in African languages that they do not serve the indigenous process of resisting but reinforce continued colonial and imperial domination through tribalism and ethnicity. It concludes by submitting that Black Theology practitioners need to contest the power of Bible translation in African languages in order to liberate the Bible ideology of liberation of all people and nations from colonial and imperial ideologies which are now gullibly accepted as the Word of God.