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Libation in Africa Christian Theology LIBATION IN AFRICAN CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY: A critical comparison of the views of Kwasi Sarpong, Kwesi Dickson, John Pobee and Kwame Bediako BY ROBERT OWUSU AGYARKO A THESIS Submitted to the University of the Western Cape, South Africa in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Philosophy Supervisor: Prof EM Conradie NOVEMBER 2005 Keywords: Akan Ancestors Bediako Dickson Intermediaries Libation Pobee Sarpong Supreme Being Theology DECLARATION I hereby declare that this thesis has been prepared by myself, that it has not been previously submitted to any university or institution of higher learning or for publication. All the sources of information specification in this research have been acknowledged both in the text and the bibliography. Signed………………………………….. Robert Owusu Agyarko ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS It is not possible to name personally all those who contributed to this research. A few however are deserving of particular mention. I am deeply grateful to my wife and children for their moral support as I undertook this study at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa. To my supervisor, Professor Ernst Conradie goes a special vote of appreciation. His advice and encouragement during my early research and at the later writing stage were a constant source of help and stimulation. I would also like to acknowledge the invaluable assistance of some theologians whose contributions impacted in no small way in shaping this thesis. The following are acknowledged: Rt. Rev. Dr. Peter Akwasi Sarpong, the Archbishop of the Arch- Diocese of Kumasi Metropolis in Ghana, Professor Kwesi Dickson, Professor John Pobee and Professor Kwame Bediako. My thanks also extend to Mrs. Patience Adjapong, who proof read the text for me. I would also like to thank my secretaries, Mrs. Cecilia Boadu and Ms. Matilda Baafi who helped me with the typing of the work. Nevertheless, l am personally responsible for every statement and any grammatical error that may occur in the work. Lastly I offer my tribute to my Ghanaian friends at UWC for their encouragement. Appreciation is expressed to authors and publishers whose works have been quoted from or cited in this research. All such materials are indicated in the bibliography. iii ABSTRACT The issue of libation poses an important challenge to Christianity in Africa and, more specifically, among the Akan people in Ghana. Libation is traditionally a key ritual for the Akan as an ethnic group. However, the European missionaries who operated in West Africa condemned this ritual as idolatrous. Following the emergence of African Christian theology, especially within the Ghanaian context, various African theologians have contributed to a more systematic discussion of such libation practices. This thesis entails a critical comparison of the views of four Akan (in Ghana) theologians on Christian participation in libation practices. On this basis, the research problem in this thesis is stated in the following way: ―What are the points of divergence that lie beneath the different positions of Kwesi Sarpong, Kwesi Dickson, John Pobee and Kwame Bediako on the question of whether and in what forms Christian participation in libation practices in an Akan context in Ghana may be regarded as compatible with the Christian faith?‖ This thesis describes analyses, compares and assesses the cultural and theological presuppositions of the views of these four Akan Ghanaian theologians on Christian participation in libation rituals. It shows how the views of these four theologians on libation are influenced by their views on the status which is attributed, both in Akan culture and in contemporary Christianity in Ghana, to abosom (lesser divinities) and nsamamfo (ancestors) in relation to Onyame (Supreme Being). The purpose of this thesis is therefore to clarify the cultural and theological assumptions underlying current debates on the observance of libation rituals by Christians in Ghana. The task is a description of the views of Sarpong, Dickson, Pobee and Bediako on the compatibility of Christian participation in libation practices in an Akan context with the Christian faith - just as they themselves understand its content and significance. In this thesis I approached the debate on libation in African Christian theology in two ways, namely following a direct and a thematic approach. In the direct approach the focus is explicitly on libation as a topic either in the context of African traditional iv religion and culture by itself or in its encounter with Christianity. In the thematic approach the focus is on libation within the context of its wider religious (with reference to God, the lesser divinities and ancestors) and cultural (the relationship between Christianity and African culture) contexts. The research indicates that the point of divergence amongst the four theologians mentioned above is almost always related to the invocation and petition of the lesser divinities and the ancestors. In addition to these major theological issues, ―ecclesiastical sanctions‖ also forms a major determining factor that influences the positions of these theologians. On their respective views, Sarpong asserts that libation in its present form is not incompatible with the Christian faith. By contrast, Bediako maintains that libation as is presently practiced among the Akan is not compatible with the Christian faith neither can it be adapted into the Christian faith. On the other hand, Dickson and Pobee maintain that libation rituals are not compatible with the Christian faith, but that it can be adopted and adapted into the Christian faith if the content of the accompanying prayer is made in consonance with Christian theology. The thesis is comprised of eight chapters and a postscript. In the postscript, I offer some personal views and argue that libation has to be adapted before it can be compatible with the Christian faith. I suggest that libation should be made only to God and to the ancestors. Petitions during libation rituals should be made only to God, while the presence of the ancestors should be recognized in a ―symbolic manner‖ by an invitation to join the living human beings to make such petitions. v TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION………………………………………………………. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT……………………………………………… iii ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………… iv CHAPTER 1: Introduction 1.1 Introduction ……………………………………………………… 1 1.2 Context and relevance of the study……………………………… 6 1.3 Demarcation and statement of the research problem…………… 7 1.4 Statement of research hypothesis………………………………… 9 Research procedure……………………………………………… 11 1.6 Research limitation ……………………………………………… 12 CHAPTER 2: Libation in Akan culture 2.1 Introduction……………………………………………………… 13 2.2 The structure of the traditional Akan worldview………………… 14 2.2.1 The belief in God………………………………………………… 15 2.2.2 The belief in lesser divinities……………………………………… 17 2.2.3 The belief in spirits………………………………………………… 20 2.2.4 The belief in ancestors…………………………………………….. 23 2.3 Libation in Akan life and thought………………………………… 29 2.4 Conclusion………………………………………………………… 30 CHAPTER 3: Libation in African Christian Theology 3.1 Introduction……………………………………………………… 31 3.2 Previous contributions…………………………………………… 32 3.3 Anti‘s contribution to the libation debate………………………… 39 3.4 A survey of literature on the recipients of libation rituals……… 40 3.4.1 The Supreme Being in Africa as the God of Christianity?……… 40 3.4.2 The relationship between God and the lesser divinities in African Christian Theology……………………………............ 44 3.4.3 Ancestors‘ cult: worship or veneration?………………………… 48 vi 3.5 Analysis and Conclusion………………………………………… 54 CHAPTER 4: Kwasi Sarpong on Christianity and Libation 4.1 Introduction……………………………………………………… 55 4.2 African Christian theology as a contextualization process……… 56 4.3 The significance of libation practices in Akan life……………… 57 4.4 Christian participation in traditional libation practices: A critical engagement on the recipients of libation………………………. 58 4.4.1 Onyame as God of Christianity?………………………………… 58 4.4.2 The lesser divinities as intermediaries?………………………… 59 4.4.3 The ancestors as saints?………………………………………… 62 4.5 Libation and idolatry…………………………………………… 64 4.6 Conclusion and Assessments…………………………………… 69 CHAPTER 5: Kwesi Dickson on Christianity and Libation 5.1 Introduction……………………………………………………… 70 5.2 African Christian theology as a contextualisation process……… 71 5.3 The significance of libation practices in Akan life……………… 72 5.4 Christian participation in traditional libation practices: A critical engagement on the recipients of libation………………………... 74 5.4.1 Onyame as the God of Christianity……………………………… 74 5.4.2 The lesser divinities as intermediaries?………………………… 78 5.4.3 Libation to the ancestors as idolatry? …………………………… 82 5.5 Conclusion and assessment ……………………………………… 84 CHAPTER 6: John Pobee on Christianity and libation 6.1 Introduction……………………………………………………… 85 6.2 African Christian theology as a contextualisation process……… 86 6.3 The significance of libation practices in Akan life……………… 87 6.4 Christian participation in traditional libation practices: A critical … 89 6.5 engagement on the recipients of libation………………………... 89 6.5.1 Onyame as the God of Christianity?…………………………… 90 6.5.2 The lesser divinities as intermediaries?………………………… 92 vii 6.5.3 Ancestors as saints in the household of God……………………… 96 6.6 Assessment and Conclusion……………………………………… 98 CHAPTER 7: Kwame Bediako on Christianity and Libation 7.1 Introduction………………………………………………………… 99 7.2 African Christian theology as a contextualization
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