African Hermeneutics: The Current State - Theology In Africa

1.4 Methodology
The methodology can be divided into three stages: (1) A Literature Survey, (2)
A Developmental Assessment of African Biblical studies and (3) A Survey of
Contemporary Methods Employed by Africa for Interpreting the Bible.
The first stage (Chapter 2) - will be a brief literary survey of authors who are
considered to be key contributors in the field of African hermeneutics. This
survey will investigate (1) the views of these authors, (2) include a review of
relevant publications by them and (3) a brief discussion on their non-literary
contribution(s) to the development of Biblical interpretation in Africa.
The second stage (Chapter 3) - will give an introduction to the development of
biblical hermeneutics in Africa. This will take the form of a brief summary
highlighting the major developments in African Hermeneutics to date. The
purpose of this stage is (1) to discuss the foundations of the various
methodologies and (2) it will illustrate the parameters of my survey in chapter 4.
The third stage (Chapter 4) - will constitute the main section of this thesis, the
survey of contemporary hermeneutics in Africa. In this section I will give
attention to (1) the different methodologies, (2) the relationship and interaction
that exist between them and (3) the significance of this interaction.
1.5 Value of this Research
African theology, like Africa itself, is very complex and diverse. Much has been
written and publicised on matters relating to African Biblical studies, especially
during the early 1960’s to late 1970’s (Onwu 1978:73). There are however
many Bible scholars in Africa (for example see Mbiti 1986:177 & West 2000:46)
who have expressed a need for more research to be done on many aspects of
African theology, especially hermeneutics in Africa.
The value of this work might not immediately affect such further research and
contribution, but will be formative in future research projects in specifically the
hermeneutical process in African.
1.6 Overview
In chapter 2, I will profile the key academic contributors to the exegetical
dialogue in African hermeneutics. Prof. West has written extensively on
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