Jesus of Africa : voices of contemporary African Christology from selected textual and oral sources

• Main Author: Stinton, Diane B.
• Published: University of Edinburgh 2001
• Subjects: 230
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.662489

This thesis explores and analyses voices of contemporary African christology, integrating selected textual and oral christologies from sub-Saharan Africa outside of South Africa. The critical concern for African Christians to articulate their perceptions of Jesus' identity and significance has spawned a proliferation of written christologies during the past few decades. To date there is little substantive analysis of these creative christologies, which prompts the present study. Christological texts from the following six theologians provide a cross-section of reflections from Catholic and Protestant traditions: Bénézet Bujo, Jean-Marc Ela, J N K Mugambi, Mercy Oduyoye, Anne Nasimiyu Wasike and John Pobee. Given the vitality of Christian experience in Africa today, informal expressions of theology warrant serious consideration. Oral christologies are therefore gained from personal interviews with the six theologians, plus qualitative field research in Kenya, Uganda and Ghana. Individual interviews and focus groups capture the voices of urban, educated Christians including men and women, Catholics and Protestants, and clergy and laity. Christological investigation is also enhanced by informal christologies gleaned through participant observation in a variety of Christian settings in the specified contexts. Following an introduction to the subject and methods of study, the main body of the thesis examines central themes which emerge from the christological data. Current christologies are configured in four broad categories intrinsically related to one another. Each category represents a cluster of christological images: (1) Jesus as Life-giver, with special reference to the images of healer and traditional healer, (2) Jesus as Mediator, developing the image of Jesus as ancestor, (3) Jesus as Loved One, and (4) Jesus as Leader, focusing on the images of king/chief and liberator. Analysis elucidates the rationale, sources, methods, and meaning of emergent African christologies. Research findings indicate that the selected African Christians reveal confident, contextual engagement with the fundamental question of Jesus, "Who do you say that I am?" (Mark 8:29).