Page 1 of 8 Original Research Reading the African context Author: There is so much alienation, pain and suffering in our today’s world. In this vein, African Musonda Bwalya1,2 Christianity, a voice amongst many voices, should seek to be a transformational religion for Affiliations: the whole of life, affecting all facets of human life towards a fuller life of all in Africa. This 1Department of Systematics article sought to highlight and point to some of the major societal challenges in the African and Ethics, United Church of context which African Christianity, as a life-affirming religion, should continue to embrace, Zambia Theological College, Zambia re-embrace and engage with, if it has to be relevant to the African context. In this vein, the article argued that a correct reading of the African context would lead to a more relevant 2Research associate, theory and praxis of African Christianity for the benefit of all African peoples and their global Department of Dogmatics and Christian Ethics, Faculty neighbours. The contention of this article was that African Christianity has a significant role to of Theology, University of play in the re-shaping of the African society and in the global community of humans, only that Pretoria, South Africa this role must be executed inclusively, responsibly and appropriately, together with all those who seek the holistic development of Africa towards one common destiny. Correspondence to: Musonda Bwalya Email: Introduction [email protected] I have deliberately chosen to present something about ‘Reading the African context’, to help those Postal address: engaged in the theory and praxis of African Christianity to reposition themselves to have a firmer PO Box 20429, Kitwe, Zambia grasp of some of the challenges of our times in Africa and to help them begin to re-construct Dates: theologies and ethics of life for all God’s people. Received: 02 July 2012 Accepted: 01 Oct. 2012 This is a demonstration of a deep appreciation for the work of Prof. De Villiers, who, in his Published: 06 Dec. 2012 active academic career, spanning over 40 years, chose to engage with some of these contemporary How to cite this article: theological and ethical issues such as ethics in the public arena and economic justice for all. I can Bwalya, M., 2012, ‘Reading vouch for this distinguished and one of the most thorough scholars – that he used to bring forth the African context’, Verbum a unique, solid, rigorous and life-affirming Christian ethical thinking to bear on these issues. He et Ecclesia 33(2), Art. #762, is indeed a soft-spoken and humble scholar, but a towering figure who contributed greatly to the 8 pages. http://dx.doi. org/10.4102/ve.v33i2.762 development of the science of ethics in Africa. Note: As a student of comparative African studies and ethics, rather than re-inventing the wheel, I This article was offered for have deliberately chosen to present some excerpts from five chapters picked from an on-going publication in honour of Prof. Etienne De Villiers, study on ‘Religion, Politics and Development in the African context’, which I am undertaking. a distinguished scholar This academic and practical study started during my sabbatical in Boston Massachusetts in 2008 of our times, who will be and I have been keenly following events on our continent, sanguinely reading and optimistically remembered for his passion interpreting signs of the times that, one day Africa will recapture her lost glory. for the birth of a moral economy and a moral society. This article was originally It is my hope that this presentation will stimulate our minds, help us pull out salient contextual presented at a gathering features, correctly read the African context and strengthen our resolve and Christian calling to of the Council of World adequately respond to some of the pertinent challenges of our times in this beautiful continent of Mission Africa (CWM)Round- Table which was convened ours, ‘mother Africa’. at Wasawange Lodge in Livingstone, Zambia, from 19 The focus of this presentation will be on the following key issues from this study: to 21 November 2011. • the Christian religion and the African context Dr Musonda Bwalya is the • authentic ecclesial identity Principal of United Church of • creative encounter with the Western world Zambia Theological College in Kitwe, Zambia and holds a • economic globalisation and struggle for African existence PhD (Social Sciences: Doctor • African Leadership and African Churches as ’Instruments for socio-politico-economic critique.’ of Philosophy with a focus on Social Ethics, African Studies and Development The Christian religion and African context Economics Thought) from Pretoria University in South There is no doubt that a lot has happened in Africa since the gospel about Jesus Christ was first Africa. He studied under Prof. sounded. In this section, we shall try to explore the impact of this on the continent which has gone De Villiers, ethicist, and Prof. through so many challenges and we shall seek to point to the movement towards the evolution James Blignaut, economist, from 1998 to 2001. Copyright: © 2012. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS OpenJournals. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License. http://www.ve.org.za doi:10.4102/ve.v33i2.762 Page 2 of 8 Original Research of theologies of transformation which is essential in handling and are tired and in need of total liberation from captivity, such challenges of our times. backwardness, underdevelopment and repression of all sorts. African Christianity, a resident religion in modern Africa has changed and is faced with a number of problems Africa, can offer that hand of liberation to all Africans, in of modernity, ranging from the rise of tropical diseases and collaboration with other people of good will. crises of foods (Masango 2010:175–177; Mombo 2010:173– 74). In such a context, African Christianity is indeed at the African Christianity has that opportunity, in these uncertain crossroads, a point at which she needs to decide which way and capricious times, to be more involved – in word and in to go and show the way on how to reach her set objectives. deed – in the holistic transformation of the continent. Thus African Christianity cannot afford to confuse itself or simply demonstrating that its task is not just inward, to serve the give up on its agenda. The religion has to decide to move needs of the Christians and expand its evangelical programs, forward and do this in a focused and well-managed way but that its task is equally outward: that is to say, its other insofar as the execution of its mission and the construction, task is to serve the needs of all African peoples out there in deconstruction and reconstruction of its theologies are the wider communities of Africa, without discrimination or concerned. Already, in the African context, in spite of these exclusion. many challenges, there are positive and laudable signs which are taking place in Africa. For example, the democratic Therefore, theologies of transformation in Africa, that is, process is being consolidated in many African countries critical and systematic reflections on the historical praxis of and there are increased peer-review mechanisms among African Christianity oriented to commutatio, should ensure African nations. With such situations, African Christianity that the plight of all children of Africa – men, women and their should indeed take a lead and contribute its share in meeting young ones – is articulated expeditiously, clearly, coherently these challenges of our times head-on and seek for more and in a life-affirming way. It is expected that theologies positive and just solutions to pressing challenges of our of transformation – critical and systematic reflections on times. Nonetheless, it should not have a ‘know-it-all’ attitude commutatio – should effectively and efficiently contribute to towards others, but seek to cooperate with other well- an affirmation and the enhancement of the whole of life as meaning groups and organisations which seek for Africa’s God intended. peace, well-being, harmony and development. The broad methodology of these reflections must be essentially The role of African Christianity in the transformation of the phenomenological: faithful to actual data, critical in analysis continent of Africa, that is commutatio – change, alteration, of data, creative and true to life-affirming interpretation of shift and reversal – of Africa for the better, cannot be over data, and passionate about life-changing action or application emphasised. The vitality and richness of African life must be of data. But this methodology must always be contextual, reclaimed by African Christianity and used in the continued aiming at the holistic liberation of the African person and propagation of the Christian gospel. African Christianity the sanguine expression of Christianity in African thought must be more innovative and creative in its mission and task. forms and idioms, and articulating real issues such as neo- Its role in the transformation, commutatio, of the continent colonialism, political instability, ethnicity and exclusion of must extend to the whole gamut of change (Bwalya 2001), female voices from development paradigms at the expense from individual lives to corporate lives, from social life to of female humanity. Here one notes great African Christian political life, from economic life to environmental life, and thinkers who have contributed to the emergence of African so on. It is not that African Christianity will take on too Christian thought which one should continually interact with much, but that it should be concerned with the whole of life as one seeks fresh new ways of elucidating the meaning of and seek common solutions to common problems, as Africa commutatio in Africa in the light of the evangel of Christ today. charts its own destiny.