Sources of African Christian Theology
The claim by Western culture that Africans need to unlearn all they know in order to be in line
with the dictates of Christianity has led to the contending for the contextualization of
Christianity aiming at creating a link between the African cultural and Christian underpinnings
by African theologians1 and thus development of the African Christian Theology. The following
thereof are the sources of African Christian Theology;
1. The Bible: Elias Kifon Bongmba quoting Charles Nyamiti and John Mbiti writes that the
Bible is the primary and irreplaceable source of theology. 2 Yes the Bible is the primary
source but John W Kinney writes that Mbiti is of the opinion that the biblical theology
must reflect the African situation and. Understanding.3
2. African culture: K. Gordon Molyneux citing relevant authors like Mbiti opines that
Africans were religious before the westerners came 4 therefore, theological resources
from African music, mythology, proverbs, prayers, arts, and ritual performances to
develop a relevant theology for Africa.5
3. Nationalism: Christianity has been immersed in Western culture and thus Africans want
to break free from the shackles of Western culture limiting them. 6 This serves a
motivating force to the development of African Christian Theology.
4. A theology of the Living Church: John W Kinney asserts that Mbiti believes that a look
into the theology of the living churches in Africa; the indigenous helps in shaping African
Christian Theology.7
1
Joel Mokhoathi, “From Contextual Theology to African Christianity: The Consideration of
Adiaphora from a South African Perspective,” University of the Free State, South Africa (2017),
1, accessed 6th November 2021, http://doi:10.3390/rel8120266
2
Elias Kifon Bongmba, Theology Today in Africa, in The Routledge Handbook of African
Theology, Ed. by Elias Kifon Bongmba (NY: Abingdon, 2020), 4.
3
John W Kinney, “The Theology of John Mbiti: His Sources, Norms, and Method,” accessed 6 th
November 2021, https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-Theology-of-John-Mbiti%3A-His-
Sources%2C-Norms%2C-and-Kinney/780bb7e9c1625a481d1cb0082eeb42ddbdff9f82
4
K. Gordon Molyneux, “African Christian Theology: A Study of Contrasting Processes of
Theological Reflection in Zaire” (Ph.D Thesis, University of London, 1988), 54.
5
Elias Kifon Bongmba, 5.
6
K. Gordon Molyneux, 59.
7
John W Kinney, “The Theology of John Mbiti: His Sources, Norms, and Method.”
