Two major strands of theology have developed in Africa—inculturation and liberation—each in response to different needs. Emmanuel Martey's African Theology provides a clear, scholarly examination of these two basic approaches, solidly based on Martey's understanding of contemporary theology and his firsthand knowledge of Africa.Martey first examines the historical background of each of these theological developments, especially relating to cultural and political movements enveloping the continent in the 1970s. In sub-Saharan Africa, struggles for independence from colonizers have resulted in inculturation theology. The defining aspect of this theology is that it pushes its roots firmly in African culture and traditions. In South Africa, on the other hand, Black Africans struggling against the oppressive systems of apartheid have turned to liberation theology.Martey shows how the real hope for African theology lies in the dialectical encounter between these two approaches and in their potential for convergence. "The two foci (of liberation and inculturation)," Martey says, "are not contradictory, but complement each other." African Theology concludes by challenging African theologians to weld together the praxis of inculturation with that of liberation, in order to achieve an integrative vision for the continent.
African Theology is a clear, scholarly examination of the two basic approaches of incultration and liberation, solidly based on Martey's understanding of contemporary theology and his perceptions of Africa. Martey shows how the real hope for African theology lies in the dialetical tension between these two approaches and in their potential convergence.
Acronyms ix
Preface xi
Introduction 1
1 Historical Background of African and Black Theologies 7
The Impact of the African Revolution on African Theology 7
The Politics of Emancipation 9
The "Act of Culture" 13
The Black Struggle against White Domination and Apartheid in South Africa 18
The Black Consciousness Movement and Black Liberation 23
Conclusion 27
Notes 27
2 African Reality and Theological Hermeneutics 36
Defining the African Reality 36
Africanization, Liberation, and Theological Hermeneutics 53
Notes 57
3 African Theology as Inculturation Theology 63
Africanization as Inculturation 63
Cases of Theological Tension in Africa 70
Notes 86
4 Black Theology as Liberation Theology 95
Liberation as the Quest for Anthropological Dignity 96
Cases of Theological Tension 99
Notes 115
5 Dialectics of the African Theological Paradigm 121
Paralysis of Unidimensional Analysis 122
Toward a Synthetic Interpretation 129
Notes 137
6 Conclusion
Notes 147
Bibliography 149
Index 173
Overview
Two major strands of theology have developed in Africa—inculturation and liberation—each in response to different needs. Emmanuel Martey's African Theology provides a clear, scholarly examination of these two basic approaches, solidly based on Martey's understanding of contemporary theology and his firsthand knowledge of Africa.Martey first examines the historical background of each of these theological developments, especially relating to cultural and political movements enveloping the continent in the 1970s. In...