Africentric Hermeneutics: Methodology towards Decolonizing Biblical Studies in Africa
Keywords:
Africa, Biblical Studies, liberation hermeneutics, Africentric HermeneuticsAbstract
This study centres on Africentric Hermeneutics, a methodology projected towards decolonizing biblical studies in Africa. In an academic reading of the Bible in Africa, Western and Africa methods of reading exist side by side. However, Africa readings of the Bible are contextual and because of the wide diversity of the social, economic, political and religious contexts of the continent, a large variety of reading methods and strategies have been developed in recent years. These have been identified as liberation hermeneutics; Africa-in-the-Bible studies, Black Studies, post-modern feminist studies, enculturation hermeneutics and vernacular hermeneutics. These approaches were efforts made to decolonize biblical studies in Africa. However, the main thrust of this paper is to show that in the task of decolonizing the Bible in Africa, or Africentric reading of the Bible in Africa is the most viable interpretative option, hence the application of this methodology. The study discovers that many scholars and Bible translators/editors have used Africentric methodology in placing Africa and Africans in the right perspective. Finally after presenting the steps on how Africentric reading can be achieved, the papers advocates an Africentric approach to the study of the Bible while at the same time recommends that Africentrism should taught as a course in Africa Universities.
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