African Christian Spirituality Research Articles

A Historical Survey on the Church’s Involvement in Peace Initiative Frameworks in Zimbabwe: Post-Mugabe Era

The article highlights that numerous peace initiative programmes have been implemented by both the government and the Church to promote reconciliation, healing, and social unity within Zimbabwe's politically charged atmosphere. Despite these efforts, political violence continued to surge during and post-Mugabe era. Furthermore, the study interrogates the role of the church in the peace initiative frameworks after the Mugabe era. Historically, the church's involvement in peace initiatives has been minimal, comparable to a mere drop in the ocean. The study posits that the Zimbabwean church could enhance its role in peace initiatives within a politically fragmented context by reinforcing to its congregants the significance of embodying the spirituality of Jesus Christ alongside African spirituality, thereby cultivating what this article refers to as 'African Christian spirituality'. The study observed that the majority of churches in Zimbabwe have not integrated African Christian spirituality into their peace initiative programmes. A spirituality with tenets such as love, tolerance, forgiveness, hunhu, respect for human life, and unity in diversity among others serves as a foundation for peace in a politically divided nation like Zimbabwe. A review of the literature, participant observation and interviews were used for data collection. Theological reflection and socio-historical approaches were employed to interpret the data collected.

Africa’s Aquifers

While John S. Mbiti (1931–2019) is highly acclaimed for his scholarly contributions to the fields of African religion and philosophy, little attention has been paid to his reflections on African Christian spirituality. Arguing vehemently against “imported Christianity,” he contends that only a genuine encounter between African religiosity and the Christian faith will quench the spiritual thirst of African peoples. This essay identifies and explores a few key contributions Mbiti offers in this regard and outlines certain critiques of his work. The central argument is that like the tremendous resource of Africa’s vast aquifers, African religiosity is a deep, enduring reservoir for enriching the understanding and experience of African Christian spirituality. Examples of the wellsprings of African religiosity that African Christian spirituality draws from include prayer, a unified worldview that does not erect dichotomies between the physical and spiritual realms, and a deeply communal orientation. Mbiti also underlines that certain elements within African religion require discernment in light of the gospel, so that Africans’ prior religious experience might be transposed into the fullness of life in Christ. Thus, African Christian spirituality can enhance not only the faith experience of African believers, but also followers of Jesus throughout the world who seek to deepen their spiritual lives.

Orality, gender, and West African Christian spirituality: Exploring women's voices

AbstractThis article explores orality in the context of West African Christian women's voices, arguing that their oral expressions highlight their lived faith experiences and function as a significant resource within the study of Christianity in Africa. The article first outlines concepts of orality in relation to gender, spirituality, language, and community engagement. We argue that women's oral contributions are a rich source of insight into West African Christian spirituality but are predominantly marginalised from more formal theological discourse. We further note that orality is not a stepping‐stone to formal academic discourse but is instead an equal and important counterpoint requiring attention. These concepts are elucidated through two ethnographic case studies. The first engages Afua Kuma, a non‐literate Ghanaian oral artist who adapted chiefly praises for Christologically centred prayers. The second focuses on Hannah (not her real name), a well‐educated Nigerian woman living with a disability, for whom singing proved spiritually transformative. We conclude with some of the challenges and benefits of engaging orality.

Language, Literature, Prayer, and Music Repertoires as Sources of African Christian Spirituality and Values

Every interreligious encounter produces a cross-fertilization of ideas and values. To what extent is the Christian-African indigenous religious encounter mutually impacting? And what aspects of the African worldview make it receptive to Christianity? This article addresses these questions by engaging the underexplored phenomena of African literature, music, and prayer as sources of African values and spirituality, as well as of Christian theology. Through in-depth interviews, focused group discussions, participant-observation, along with archival data and African literary works, it argues that the wealth of African metaphors and values therein richly express African spirituality, values, and Christian theology.

Power, Poverty and Prayer: A Historical Perspective on the Church in the African Sate at the Edge of the Twenty-First Century

In the early 1990s Adrian Hastings, a consummate historian, theologian and social activist intoned that "Black Africa is today totally inconceivable apart from the presence of Christianity, a presence which a couple of generations ago could still be reasonably dismissed as fundamentally marginal and a mere subsidiary aspect of colonialism." An African theologian Kwame Bediako cast his mind back to the Edinburgh Conference of 1910 and traced the contours of this element of surprise in the transformation of African Christianity. He declared that African Christianity has now acquired a greater consciousness of its African identity and character. The great challenge for the future is how to be of service to Africa as it voyages into the political realm of the twenty-first century. Not only have "new dimensions" emerged in African Christian spirituality as Paul Gifford said, but the roles of Christian leaders in the contemporary political crises have grown tremendously. Bediako and Gifford cite Togo, Benin, Ghana, and Liberia in West Africa, Zaire, Malawi and Zambia in Central Africa and South Africa as examples.

The Revival of African Christian Spirituality: the Experience of African Independent Churches

The Revival of African Christian Spirituality: the Experience of African Independent Churches

Book Review: African Christian Spirituality

Book Review: African Christian Spirituality

African Christian Spirituality. Edited by Aylward Shorter. London, Geoffrey Chapman, 1979. Pp. 160. £2·95.

An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. Please use the Get access link above for information on how to access this content.

Book Review: African Christian Spirituality

Book Review: African Christian Spirituality