International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue VIII, August 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

Inculturation in African Christianity: The Need for a Global Model

Dr Charles K. Moywaywa

Lecturer, Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies, South Eastern Kenya University P. O. Box 170, 90200, Kitui, Kenya

Abstract: The purpose of this work is to contribute to the on-going debate on inculturation by projecting a trajectory that appreciates the authenticity of all cultures. The chief objective for inculturation is to make Christianity more relevant, more appealing, more understandable or even more feel-at-home to the Afrucan continent (Walligo, 1986:12). Inculturation, as a concept, was coined to satisfy the need for addressing the mistakes made by some of the pioneer white missionaries who condemned indigenous culture as devilish and therefore one of the evils from which Africans required to be liberated (Kanu, 2012; Mugambi, 2002). To undo this erroneous ideology, African theologians began to push for a more sympathetic theological approach that could give credence rather tha general condemnation of their indigenous traditions. But the truth of the matter is ********that the damage was already done. Pro-western cultural attributes have already become entrenched in African mentality such that to completely remove them from people’s minds is like a mission in vanity. For this reason, there is need to appreciate the fact that indigenous cultures may not always provide an adequate material for inculturation. In some instances, it may well be the vase that a more suitable material is available in the western culture, or any other foreign culture. This paper focuses on the following areas: examination of the prevailing approaches to inculturation in African Christianity; the need for a global model and an analysis of a proposed model. This work is underpinned by Grenham’s (2001) observation that the process of inculturation infers a transformative and dialog*ical engagement involving Christian and nonChristian values aimed at revealing God’s vision for humanity.

Key Words: Inculturation, African Christianity, interculturation, paradigm, intercultural dialogue.

I. INTRODUCTION

With the introduction of the term inculturation, African Christian theology was provided with a necessary tool for propaga**ting Christianity in a manner that is oriented towards the African religio-cultural values. There was now available a new approach through which mistakes of former Euro-American missionaries could be corrected. This process has so far boosted the penetrstion levels of the Christian message in he African continent. This is especially so due to enhanced Bible Translation activities which enable various communities to read the scriptures in their own mother tongue. Inculturation was indeed the first method that was used to convey the Christian message to non-jews at the inception of the Christian Church (Walligo, 1986:13).