Théologie africaine et calvaire des peuples : La spiritualité africaine en question

Abstract

A true African spirituality and/or theology emanate from the Scripture, have consideration for the Church’s tradition and are a praxis that accompanies the day to day sufferings and challenges of the African people. Emmanuel Vangu Vangu in his book Théologie Africaine et calvaire des peuples, La spiritualité Africaine en question, is inspired mainly by Marie-Dominique CHENU OP, (1895-1990), a French progressive theologian – founder of the reformist journal, Concilium, peritus at Vatican Council II though his book Le Saulchoir: Une école de la théologie, was put under the Index Liborum prohibitorum in 1942. Vangu Vangu is a Congolese theologian, consultant of associative movements and Non Governmental Organizations, professor and parish priest. His aim is to show that what matters most is not the wealth we have in Africa but how we use it. He proposes a new evangelization of Africa that makes the Gospel life-giving to the Church in Africa and communes with the African reality; joys, sufferings and creativity. The author warms that his historical hermeneutics is not an epistemological solution to practical African theology but an exploration of the major theological themes that arise from the life of Africans. His book has four chapters; after developing some preliminary ideas on theology (chapter one), he shows that theology is based on the Gospel (chapter two). Before concluding with his new African theology of community commitment (chapter four) he shows that African theology requires a mental and spiritual revolution (chapter three).