Hekima Review No. 11 (Sept 1994)

Great things happen when God mixes with us. This is the title and opening line of a worship song by Rev. Carey Landry. Depending on the degree of relativity one attaches to the meaning of the qualificative term, 'great', one can take a quick glance at recent events in the continent of Africa and sing: "Great things happen ... " The epoch~making Special Assembly For Africa of the Synod of Bishops in Rome has at last come and gone! South Africa is free, free at last! Malawians breathe a fresh air of democratic change, for the first time in three decades! Unfortunately, this list cannot be prolonged, because, on the other hand, there are the lingering tragedies of Rwanda, Angola, Somalia, Sudan, and Liberia...; the crushing burden of external debts, spiralling inflation; the devastating scourge of AIDS; famine; inundating waves of refugees and several categories of displaced peoples; political upheaval, and the ascendancy of ruthless dictators and dictatorial regimes. This second list is longer than the first!