Christianity and
Africanisation
The Christianity and Africanisation project
has as its aim the investigation of the
connection between Christianity and African
culture, with a particular investigative focus on
the construction of "African Christian"
identities. Precursors of the project included
RICSA's 1995 School of Theology, with the theme,
Christianity and African Culture. In 1996, RICSA
was approached by the World Council of Churches
to prepare a document on Gospel and Cultures in
South Africa. This document addressed several
issues related to the theme of Africanisation.
The present project was launched at a
consultation at the Centre for African Studies in
November 1997 - a gathering which also marked the
twenty-fifth anniversary of the Journal of
Theology for Southern Africa and its renewed
focus on the Africanisation of theology. A number
of papers were given by academics from across
South Africa and also Malawi. In January 1998, a
workshop was held at UCT to further debate and
focus the issues arising from the consultation.
This gave rise to the formation of a study group
of some 15 Pastors, as well as the launching of a
network with members in Grahamstown and
KwaZulu-Natal. Meetings have been taking place on
a monthly basis and another larger consultation
is planned for May. A formal research proposal
has been formulated by project leader Malinge
Njeza, in consultation with Jacques de Wet -- who
works both in the Religious Studies and the
Sociology departments and is trained in both
qualitative and quantitative research methods.
The project also has international contact in a
visiting scholar from Hamburg who is researching
the African Initiated Churches.
Project
Leader: Malinge
Njeza
Researchers:
Nomsa
Hani , Mxolisi Somandi
Documents
and Resources
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