African Hermeneutics: The Current State - Theology In Africa

1.1 Background
• Chapter 1 – Introduction and Research Outline
Biblical studies in Africa is comparatively a very new enterprise only dating back
to the 1960’s (Onwu 1984-5). The status quo of colonialism and ‘western’
theology along with the changing face of African politics saw the need to break
away from what was labelled as ‘the white man’s Christianity’. This theology
was not only alien to Africa, but also oppressive: “When the white man came to
our country he had the Bible and we had the land. The white man said to us
‘Let us pray’. After we opened our eyes, the white man had the land and we
had the Bible” (Mofokeng 1988:34). Africa longed for an afrocentric theology
that was indigenous in content and expression. Consequently, the 1966
Consultation of African Theologians conference was held in Ibadan, Nigeria, to
discuss the way forward for creating such a exclusively African Christianity
(Onwu 1984-5:36).
The task of formulating a true Theologica Africana was by no means an easy
feat. A strictly inculturated theology would require a true African interpretation
of Scripture, but since most of Africa’s theologians then had received their
theological education in western seminaries and universities, due to the lack of
necessary academic infrastructures in Africa, constructing a framework for such
an interpretation proved a challenge at first (Mbiti 1986:46). To create such an
effective framework, these theologians had to rid themselves of ‘western’
ideologies, thought and criticism. They had to re-educate and inculturate
themselves with the needs of the people, the land and the future. This was a
very crucial phase in the developmental process of African theology because
the assessments made then would literally redefine the face of African
scholarship for good.
This assessment addressed three specific concerns affecting the lives of people
and the future of Christianity in Africa: oppression, mission and politics. From
these the main branches of hermeneutics in Africa would develop: liberation
hermeneutics, mission for an African context and the value, authenticity and
contribution of non-African scholars vs. neo-traditionalism in African
hermeneutics (West n.d.).
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