African Theology Research Articles

Changing Metaphors in African Theologies: Influences from Digital Cultures

The incursion of globalisation presents both opportunities and challenges for mission in Africa. This is especially visible among the younger generation whose cultural perspectives have been influenced by global digital cultures. Although the youth in Africa are very much aware of their indigenous identities, they also participate actively with their peers elsewhere around the globe. As a result of these global interactions, many of the pre-colonial theological metaphors which have been accepted as authentic grassroots African theologies seem to have become less meaningful to emerging generations. Analysing contemporary oral sources such as music, prayers, poetry and everyday conversation among young Africans, this paper argues that there is a seismic shift in theological metaphors that speak meaningfully to the contexts of emerging Africans. The paper argues that many young people in contemporary Ghana, for example, do not see mmoatia (dwarfs) and sasabonsam (forest monster) as symbols of threat: they have new threats. A theology that describes Jesus as a hunter could be so impotent in the face of contemporary realities of some young people in Ghana, as Western theologies made a corresponding adjustment in Majority World countries a few decades ago. The paper concludes that these changing metaphors have implications for local theologies in Africa and must be engaged by theologians, missionaries and all who are interested in African theologies for the purpose of meaningful contextualisation in contemporary African Christianity.

Rethinking African Theology in Light of Emerging Digital Culture

This article engages secondary sources and real-world instances of the digital mediation of contemporary culture to interrogate the responsiveness of African theological reflection to the phenomenon of digital culture. Drawing on the Ghanaian social context, it suggests that in supporting the emergence of digital culture, social media and other digital tools reshape society and culture perceptually. This applies to the role of indigenous religion, construction of gender and other forms of identity, and the convergence of local and global approaches of imagining and changing the world. In light of these changes, theological reflection must pursue and contend with new understandings of culture as a context and source of theology. The paper therefore suggests that a new ideo-theological paradigm is required in which past-oriented conceptions of what constitutes African ‘tradition’ give place to careful and critical attention to the overt and subtle ways in which digital tools democratise popular agency on religious and public issues. This is crucial if academic African Theology is to avoid a crisis of relevance and legitimacy in contemporary and future Africa.

Spirit-led Missions

Abstract A rigorous approach to missions is a significant trait of classical Pentecostalism. However, the multi-cultural context of the United Kingdom shows that most African Pentecostal churches are struggling to attract much indigenous populace as compared to mega-churches in Africa. Using the case study of Apostolic Faith Mission International Ministries UK, this study explores the church’s strategies to missions and its impact on church growth in the United Kingdom. The study used Spirit-infusion as a theological framework for discussing Spirit-led missions. The study is phenomenological observation qualitative research, data was gathered through in-depth interviews, questionnaires, and participant observations. A key finding was that the church’s missions strategy is spontaneous, all-believers, auxiliary and structured; but they are failing to translate into church growth. The study concludes that the church should revisit the issue of ‘experience’ coupled with negotiating to move beyond the cultural, ethnic, and colonial boundaries. The study recommends that the African Pentecostal theology of missions in diasporic contexts must consider: the Spirit experience; lives concentrated to the Spirit; Spirit of miracles; and Spirit of excellence.

Childhood theology and implications for pedagogy

This article argues for a childhood theology informed by systematic theology, which enabled the researcher to mould the concepts of childhood theology to understand in order to use it. Child theology has been a neglected study in most African scholarship. Systematic theology guided the analysis of data as objectively as possible and contributed to the development of a childhood theology model that best accounts for all the data, showing that how childhood theology can be constructed in the African setting. The philosophy of Christian education aided the analysis of childhood theology and to assess the pedagogical relevance towards maximising a child’s potential in learning. Considerations of African theological perspectives, western perspectives and biblical evidence for childhood theology are explored to configure its significance to African childhood theology and the implications for pedagogical practices that are holistic, God-centred and transformative.

Critical evaluation of the doctrine of predestination within black-African theology: Christ the elected and electing

This article aims to deconstruct the ideology about God’s election in South Africa, which is attached to capitalism. I will discuss about its impact on the South African socio-politico-economic situation in the apartheid and post-apartheid era. Furthermore, I will critically discuss the equality of human beings in the eyes of Triune God and focus on the centrality of Christology from the African and black theology. One cannot divorce the Providence of God from the doctrine of predestination. The God who creates is the same God who elects and provides for his people. This argument will lead to the critical question: Who are the elect, rich or poor? Free or oppressed? This article’s final thesis is to deconstruct the ideology that God elects according to God’s grace.

On theological aesthetics, decolonisation, and doing theology through the arts

Throughout history, works of art have often served as a prominent mode of theological expression – also, importantly, here in South Africa. In, thus, revisiting the history of theological inquiry in South Africa as part of a larger process of decolonisation, it is important and necessary to also look to the arts, which is what this article will attempt to do. It will begin with an exploration of the relationship between theology and the arts, before looking at the emergence of the field of theological aesthetics. This will be followed by some comments on the relevance of this field for South African theology, especially when it comes to questions of decoloniality. The article will then conclude with a brief discussion of the South Africa sculptor Jackson Hlungwani as an example of someone who did theology through the arts.

Engelbert Mveng and Jean Marc Éla:

The history of African theology reveals the emergence of two dominant theological trends: inculturation and liberation. The former aims to incarnate the Christian faith into African culture, while the latter seeks to reclaim the intrinsic worth of the African violated by colonialism and promote the social transformation of Africa. However, the 1990s witnessed a preponderance of inculturation theology that engaged the attention of many African theologians. During this period, Engelbert Mveng (1930-1995) and Jean Marc Éla (1936-2008) sought to inculturate the Christian faith into the African soil in a manner that speaks to the peculiarities of Africa without creating a dichotomy between inculturation and liberation methods. Their respective contextual theologies contributed towards fostering a creative balance between inculturation and liberation trends. This article examines the seminal contributions of Mveng and Éla towards sieving out a decolonised African theology. It uses analytical and comparative approaches to present the theologies of Mveng and Éla. It will argue that although inculturation and liberation emphases are distinct, they are complimentary in an effort to graft a contextual theology that is truly Christian and African.

The Ecumenical Factor in African Theology and Ecclesiology

AbstractIn addition to the continental and national councils of churches and ecumenical theological institutions, Black and African theologies are some of the most ecumenical initiatives in Africa. This article explores the ecumenical factor in the emergence and the continued flourishing of Black and African theologies. Notably, these theologies have, from their earliest days, endeavoured to include indigenous religions and cultures as well as environmental issues. This essay also outlines a sample of the most prominent types of ecumenical theologies in contemporary Africa, arguing that these theologies are simultaneously the result of an ecumenical outlook and the greatest advocates for ecumenism in Africa.

Pentecost of the city: Towards an African urban migratory theology

Migration is a growing phenomenon affecting African cities. This article engages the current reality of migrants in the City of Cotonou, Benin, theologically. It re-imagines theological education for Cotonou to flourish by 2050, producing an African urban migratory theology that deeply engages the presence of migrants as contributors to socio-economic development. The central question is: How can theological education prepare Christians in the process of ‘Pentecost of the city’ and build flourishing African cities? In this work, I will engage with the ideas of urban theologians such as Ray Bakke. First, I will present the realities in Cotonou through the results of surveys. Secondly, I will focus on the historical issues of migration. Thirdly, I will explain the concept of ‘Pentecost of the city’ by elaborating arguments for an African Urban migratory theology. By doing that, I will highlight the necessity of change in curriculum.

Theologizing in Black: On Africana Theological Ethics and Anthropology

Theologizing in Black: On Africana Theological Ethics and Anthropology

African Theology, Philosophy, and Religions: Celebrating John Samuel Mbiti’s Contribution, edited by Chammah J. Kaunda and Julius Gathogo

African Theology, Philosophy, and Religions: Celebrating John Samuel Mbiti’s Contribution, edited by Chammah J. Kaunda and Julius Gathogo

Gendered small-scale crops and power dynamics: A case of uninga (sesame) production amongst the Ndau of south-eastern Zimbabwe

Women in Ndau communities, like in many African communities, are the fulcrum of household economies that ensure improved livelihoods of their communities. Thus, they are an indispensable factor in the sustainable development equation of their communities. It is sadly true that women do not own land in most African societies. Consequently, most studies analyse the realities of gender inequality in the distribution of resources that include land. However, very few studies recognise, appreciate and amplify the role of women in reproducing and transforming the society through their participation in agricultural activities even on pieces of land that they do not call their own. In this article we examined the power and influence that women derive from their agricultural activities, especially their association with the cultivation of crops that have often been labelled as feminine. We sought to recognise the agency of women not only in transforming livelihoods, but also gender inequalities in terms of control and influence on the use, valorisation and sale of agricultural produce. We examined the phenomenon of the crops associated with female gender from a new perspective that compels a rereading of the narratives that often dwarf women’s agricultural activities and crops associated with them. This article focussed on the production of uninga [sesame] amongst the Ndau of Musikavanthu and Chipinge South Constituencies covering areas that include Rimbi, Manzvire, Mwanyisa, Rimai, Rukangare and Garahwa in south-eastern Zimbabwe. The article’s overall theoretical framework is the African women theology that emphasises on African women as agents, not subordinated and passive subjects of history. The study is qualitative, and it used interviews, focus group discussions and observations as instruments for gathering data.Contribution: The study amplified the transformative role of women in society through their participation in agricultural activities. The findings acknowledged the complementarity of women and men in uninga production in a religio-cultural setting that has often shown biases towards patriarchy. The results are in sync with the reconstructive and liberative motif of the African women theology, which envisage a transformed African society that celebrates gender inclusivity through facilitation of dialogue between the two genders.

Memory, embodiment, ethics: In conversation with Wentzel van Huyssteen’s work on theological anthropology

This article focuses on Wentzel van Huyssteen’s work on theological anthropology, attending especially to his emphasis on the temporal and narrative dimension of personal identity. In this regard, Van Huyssteen draws on the thought of Paul Ricoeur, including his view that memory is the gateway to the self. With this in mind, the first part of the article highlights some key features of Van Huyssteen’s engagement the last decade or two with the question what it means to be human, namely the affirmation of interdisciplinarity, embodiment and vulnerability. The argument is put forward that Van Huyssteen’s work invites and displays the need to uphold the interconnections between embodiment, memory, vulnerability, imagination and empathy. It is furthermore claimed that his constructive proposals ‘in search of self’ should be seen as inextricably connected with its crucial ethical and theological motivation and contours.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article focuses on the South African theologian Wentzel van Huyssteen’s work on theological anthropology. He is internationally renowned, and this article discusses key features of his views and brings it into conversation with the work of the philosopher Paul Ricoeur and perspectives from memory studies. As such, it presents a novel engagement that can enrich systematic theological discourse.

Transformative Possibilities of Pedagogics for Christian Leadership in Higher Education – a South African Practical Theology Perspective

ABSTRACT A contextual analysis of contemporary challenges is framed in terms of the concept “wounds of humanity”, followed by a proposed Christian religious leadership pedagogy to deal with these wounds. The notion of subversive education and a new prospect for leadership education will be illuminated. Furthermore, an educational praxis is sought to teach leaders the disposition for ethical-justice and peace, followed by a proposal for a new cultural heritage of humanity; namely, the quest for a true humanity as our collective destiny.

DUALISME DE CROYANCE : ECHEC OU REUSSITE DU PREMIER MISSIONNAIRE EN AFRIQUE ET EN REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO

In their dejected work, in African earth and in Democratic Republic of Congo, the first foreign missionaries played two roles: to announce Christ's gospel and to sustain the colonial politics. The dismissal of the culture of the countries evangelized drove to the failure of these missionaries although the missionary work produced positive effects in the African and Congolese surroundings. We have included very quickly that as soon as a civilization succeeds in imposing itself to another, it is usually born a half-caste culture of which some values risk to fade away before those of the most influential civilization of the two. It is why, we wanted to contribute the custom that was in force in the way to believe the African evidently in writing, while granting priority to Christianity to correct, especially by African theologians themselves, the abuses of their own tradition.

Christian Nation in Zambia: from Proclamation to Reset

December 2021 marks the 30th anniversary of the proclamation of Zambia a Christian nation. The leader of the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) party who came to power in 1991, a convinced Christian F. Chiluba, declared Zambia a Christian nation, arguing that Christianity was then professed by more than 70% of the population and that this was supposed to help the country to get rid of corruption and contribute to its prosperity. The article analyzes the reasons of decision to declare Zambia a Christian nation. It is emphasized that political goals prevailed then over religious ones, since the issue of preserving and strengthening power was high on the political agenda of the ruling MMD party. The economic background is also touched upon: as a pragmatic president Chiluba pursued a policy of economic liberalization and counted on financial assistance from Western countries and international donors. The following Christian presidents L. Mwanawasa, R. Banda and M. Sata used limited Christian rhetoric, but they collaborated with the Church with varying degrees of intensity. At the same time, the provision on the Christian nation in the Constitution was preserved. It is noted that the role of the religious factor in politics increased in the early 2010s. The politicization of religion, primarily Christianity, became apparent during the struggle for power led by the leader of the opposition Patriotic Front party Michael Sata, who was supported by some religious leaders. After Edgar Lungu (party Patriotic Front) came to power in 2015, Zambia was re-proclaimed a Christian nation, which was enshrined in the new edition of the 2016 constitution. At the same time, the country began the political rehabilitation of F. Chiluba, who, after leaving the presidency in 2001, was persecuted for corruption. The campaigns for the 2015 presidential elections and for the 2016 general elections have shown the relevance of the discourse on religion and politics in the political process, primarily in its aspect of the multiple relationships between religion, ethnicity and politics. The article shows that the issue of the proclamation of Zambia a Christian nation remains relevant in Zambian society and among African and Western theologians and researchers whose judgments and conclusions are often polar opposite. The author notes that the realities of the socio-political, socio-economic and cultural life in Zambia do not yet indicate the existence of the declared Christian nation. The high level of corruption, poverty, limited rights of some groups of the population do not correspond to Christian ideals and values and have become serious challenges for the modern Zambian society. The article emphasizes that, unlike a number of other countries south of the Sahara, where competition between Christianity and Islam has intensified in recent years, leading, among other things, to bloody conflicts, Zambia survives this conflict along the axis of competition between different directions of Christianity. The ruling PF’s manifesto for the August 2021 general election contains Christian rhetoric. The document states the PF’s commitment to partnership with the Church, which it recognizes as a key partner in the conversion of Zambians into a Christian nation. Further peaceful development of Zambia depends on a balanced internal policy of the authorities aimed at solving complex socio-economic problems in cooperation with representatives of all religions and their confessions.

African women’s theology and the re-imagining of community in Africa

African women’s theology has a commitment to the emancipation of women covering the several themes such as ecclesiology, hospitality, community, spirituality, sacrifice, ecology and missiology. African women’s theology examines African culture and demonstrates an understanding of women as a distinct group with inherent varieties within this category. Furthermore, African women’s theology incorporates experiences of African women in their perspectives while analysing women’s subordination. This article is a re-imagining of community in African theology. African theology has traditionally promoted the need to appreciate African culture and see to it that the integrity of African culture is upheld. However, in so doing, it laid an emphasis only on the positive aspects in African community and turned a blind eye to what was inherent in African community and not worthy to be reclaimed.Contribution: A closer look at African women’s theology provides a re-imagining of community as gleaned from Mercy Oduyoye and Teresia Hinga who assert that the quality of community in Africa ought to entail relationships, which promote reciprocity, mutuality, partnership and denounce hierarchies that promote power relations between men and women.

Reforum: A brief but not unimportant chapter in the Dutch Reformed Church’s apartheid saga

In 1985 when storm clouds were gathering over South Africa, and a state of emergency was declared, a group of members of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) Family, clergy as well as laity, founded an organisation, Reforum. The two-fold aim of Reforum was to provide a prophetic witness against apartheid, calling the DRC to take leave of its theology of apartheid, and, secondly, to work towards the reunification of the DRC Family. The article researches the original Reforum documents, minutes, reports, conference material and letters, that hitherto laid untouched in the DRC Archive, in Pretoria. The programme of Reforum, especially the national and regional conferences held by the organisation over the 7 years of its existence, is discussed. The initial negative reaction of the DRC officials and synods, as well as the critique from some in the Dutch Reformed Mission Church and the DRC in Africa that Reforum was not radical enough in its approach, are recorded. The summation, at the end, is that Reforum did play a significant role, albeit humble and short lived, in the annals of the DRC’s apartheid saga. Relevance: The DRC’s apartheid saga, the story of a church that had over many years lived with apartheid and even provided a theological argument for separate development, eventually came to the point where the DRC not only repented of its past, but declared apartheid and the theology of apartheid a sin and a heresy, continues to fascinate historians, including church historians. For South African Christians, clergy as well as laity, it helps explain their often troubled past, as well as present. The often neglected story of Reforum and the role and contribution of the organisation in this process needs to be recorded. Original research: the author provides original qualitative research, using material that had lain untouched in the DRC Archive for three decades. This may be considered to be a preliminary study. The archival material merits more and deeper attention. It may well provide material for post graduate research.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The research is of value for the study of South African general history, South African church history, ecumenical studies, and practical theology.

African Christian Inculturation Project: Theological Motifs of Liberation and Decolonization

This paper discusses the African Christian theology of inculturation. The theology of inculturation – the African indigenization of Christianity – is one of the African theological movements advocating for the liberation and decolonization of African religious, cultural, and political thought. It is a theological motif that emerged from the African experience of suffering and political and cultural denigration under European colonialism. This paper argues that the African theology of inculturation is a theological outlook that addresses African political, spiritual, and social conditions in the post-colonial era. It is modest and transformative because it offers hope to Africans and empowers them to seek positive change and inclusion, while rejecting a narrative of religious and cultural dominance. It demands recognition of Africa and its cultures by the West as an equal stakeholder in Christ’s victory on the cross. The African theology of inculturation expresses a unique African response to the gospel of salvation; in other words, Christian Scriptures are read and interpreted in line with African values, which situate Christian theology in the African cultural and cosmological worldview. The African cosmological worldview takes African indigenous cultures and philosophy as instruments that explain to Africans the relationship between Christianity and the realities of political and religious life in Africa.

African Christian Inculturation Project: Theological Motifs of Liberation and Decolonization

This paper discusses the African Christian theology of inculturation. The theology of inculturation – the African indigenization of Christianity – is one of the African theological movements advocating for the liberation and decolonization of African religious, cultural, and political thought. It is a theological motif that emerged from the African experience of suffering and political and cultural denigration under European colonialism. This paper argues that the African theology of inculturation is a theological outlook that addresses African political, spiritual, and social conditions in the post-colonial era. It is modest and transformative because it offers hope to Africans and empowers them to seek positive change and inclusion, while rejecting a narrative of religious and cultural dominance. It demands recognition of Africa and its cultures by the West as an equal stakeholder in Christ’s victory on the cross. The African theology of inculturation expresses a unique African response to the gospel of salvation; in other words, Christian Scriptures are read and interpreted in line with African values, which situate Christian theology in the African cultural and cosmological worldview. The African cosmological worldview takes African indigenous cultures and philosophy as instruments that explain to Africans the relationship between Christianity and the realities of political and religious life in Africa.