Can God Save Africa? Christian Inculturation Tested by Precarity

Abstract

This article explores the paradox of a fervent faith that thrives amidst extreme poverty, with packed churches and frequent prayer gatherings, that nonetheless struggles to bring about concrete transformation in African societies. Focusing on the Catholic Church’s attempt at inculturation of the Christian faith in Africa, the article revisits the history and relevance of Christianity on the continent, highlighting both its strengths and its weaknesses that limit its transformative potential. While African Christianity has been widely studied, less attention has been given to the gap between religious vitality and social effectiveness. The article argues that this paradox
calls for re-imagining the Church as a dynamic agent of emancipation and social change rather than a static institution primarily concerned with preserving dogma.