ORIGINAL RESEARCH
http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ve.v33i2.762

 

Reading the African context

 

 

Musonda Bwalya^{I, II}

^IDepartment of Systematics and Ethics, United Church of Zambia Theological College, Zambia
^IIResearch associate, Department of Dogmatics and Christian Ethics, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Correspondence

 

 

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ABSTRACT

There is so much alienation, pain and suffering in our today's world. In this vein, African Christianity, a voice amongst many voices, should seek to be a transformational religion for the whole of life, affecting all facets of human life towards a fuller life of all in Africa. This article sought to highlight and point to some of the major societal challenges in the African context which African Christianity, as a life-affirming religion, should continue to embrace, 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 theory and praxis of African Christianity for the benefit of all African peoples and their global neighbours. The contention of this article was that African Christianity has a significant role to play in the re-shaping of the African society and in the global community of humans, only that this role must be executed inclusively, responsibly and appropriately, together with all those who seek the holistic development of Africa towards one common destiny.

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Correspondence:
Musonda Bwalya
PO Box 20429
Kitwe
Zambia
Email: m_bwalya@yahoo.com

Received: 02 July 2012
Accepted: 01 Oct. 2012
Published: 06 Dec. 2012

 

 

Note: This article was offered for publication in honour of Prof. Etienne De Villiers, a distinguished scholar of our times, who will be remembered for his passion for the birth of a moral economy and a moral society. This article was originally presented at a gathering of the Council of World Mission Africa (CWM)Round-Table which was convened at Wasawange Lodge in Livingstone, Zambia, from 19 to 21 November 2011.
Dr Musonda Bwalya is the Principal of United Church of Zambia Theological College in Kitwe, Zambia and holds a PhD (Social Sciences: Doctor of Philosophy with a focus on Social Ethics, African Studies and Development Economics Thought) from Pretoria University in South Africa. He studied under Prof. De Villiers, ethicist, and Prof. James Blignaut, economist, from 1998 to 2001.