From Notorious Religiosity to Spirituality: Dialogue Between John Mbiti and Valentin-Yves Mudimbe

Abstract

This article examines the dialogue between John Mbiti and Valentin-Yves Mudimbe, two influential figures in African
intellectual history. While Mbiti affirms the intrinsic religiosity of the African individual as a theological and cultural resource, Mudimbe
deconstructs the very epistemological frameworks that have shaped African thought. The study investigates how Mbiti’s inculturated theology aims to rehabilitate African traditional religions within Christian discourse, whereas Mudimbe critiques the colonial and postcolonial conditions of knowledge production. By placing these two perspectives in conversation, the article underscores the tensions between affirmation and critique in African theology and philosophy. It proposes that transcending the “notoriously religious” identity necessitates embracing a more imaginative and emancipatory spirituality—rooted in authenticity and open to transformation. This inquiry ultimately calls for a renewed African subjectivity, one that takes responsibility for integral well-being
in the face of ongoing socio-political and ecological challenges.