THE PLACE OF AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION IN THE FORMATION OF AFRICAN CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY: A CRITICAL STUDY

Paulinus Chikwado Ejeh (PhD), Barrister Matthew Obumneme Arum

Abstract


This paper is an attempt to place African traditional religion properly within the scope of African Christian theology. It aims is to show that despite contrary views from the early missionaries and even some African Christians, African traditional religion has a lot to offer to African Christian theology. By employing historical and analytic methods, the paper strongly argues that African traditional religion has positively affected and influenced African Christian theology by laying strong and indelible foundation for the formation of African Christian theology. Although the paper is of the view that not everything in African traditional religion is suitable for the formation of African Christian theology, however, the study maintains that in order for African Christians to live authentic African Christian lives, they must borrow and learn from African traditional religion which was part of their lives before the coming of the missionaries.

Keywords


Africa, Tradition, Christian, Religion, Theology

Full Text:

PDF

References


Ade, E,A, (ed.). (1983). Traditional Religion in West Africa. Ibadan: Sefer Books.

Asukwo, O.O., Adaka, S. S. & Dimgba, E. D. (2013). “The need to re-conceptualize African ‘Traditional’ religion”. An International Multidisciplinary Journal, Ethiopia, Vol. 7 no.3, pp. 232- 246.

Awolalu, J. O. (1976). “What is African traditional religion”? Studies in Comparative Religion, vol. 10 no. 2. Retrieved from: www.studiesincomparativereligion.com

Balogun, I.A.B. (1984). “Religious Understanding and Cooperation in Nigeria”, quoted in J.O.

Kayode, Understanding African Traditional Religion. Nigeria: University of Ife Press.

Mbiti, J.S. (1969). African religions and philosophy. London: Heinemann.

Mbiti, J.S., (1976). ‘Some current concerns of African theology’, Expository Times 87/b, 164–168.

Metu, E.Ik. (1987). Comparative Studies of African Traditional Religions. Onitsha: Imico Publishers.

Mozia Michael I. (1982). Solidarity in the Church and Solidarity among the Igbos of Nigeria.

Rome.

Mugambi, J.N.K. (1989). African Christian theology: An introduction. Heinemann, Nairobi, Kenya.

Nyamiti, C. (1973). The Scope of African Theology. Uganda: Gaba Publications.

Nyende, P. (2005). ‘Jesus the greatest ancestor: A typology-based theological interpretation of

Hebrews’ Christology in Africa’, PhD Thesis, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh.

Obielosi, D., and Ani, D. (2017). “A Quest for a Unique African Christian Theology and Methodology in the Light of Charles Nyamiti” in Mgbakoigba, Journal of African Studies. Vol.7 No.1. p. 15.

Waweru, H.M. (2018). “African Theology in the 21st Century: Mapping Out Critical Priorities” European Scientific Journal March 2018 edition Vol.14, No.8 ISSN: 1857 – 7881

Wilbur, O. (1996). Biblical Christianity in African Perspective. U.K.: Paternoster Press.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2021 Paulinus Chikwado Ejeh (PhD), Barrister Matthew Obumneme Arum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ISSN (PRINT):    2682 - 6135

ISSN (ONLINE): 2682 - 6127

 

 

   

 

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.