Faces of Jesus in Africa

by Robert J. Schreiter (Editor)

Theological and missions worlds have long known the need to radically reinterpret christology for cultural realms not formed by Israelite and Western religious and cultural traditions. In Faces of Jesus in Africa, Robert Schreiter has compiled essays by ten creative French and English-speaking African theologians, thinkers who are moving beyond prescribing what should be done to actually doing it. Essays by Charles Nyamiti, Eloe Julien Penoukou, Douglas W. Waruta, and Zablon Nthanburi provide insights on African christologies today. Anne NaSimiyu-Wasike gives a glimpse of what happens when one interprets Jesus from a woman's perspective. Cece Kolie asks if Jesus can be subsumed under the rubric of healer. Anselme T. Sanon explores how Jesus can be the master of initiation, Laurenti Magesa interprets Him as liberator, and Francois Kabasele as Chief, ancestor and elder brother.

200 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1991

About the author

Robert Schreiter is a professor of systematic theology at Catholic Theological Seminar. He is also a priest and member of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. Schreiter is the author or editor of twenty-seven books, with contributing chapters in 140 other volumes. He is past president of the American Society of Missiology and of the Catholic Theological Society of America.

Reviews

[Josh Majeski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked parts of this book, and simply got through others. That's the reality of reading books that are collections of essays from multiple authors with different styles and topics. I found so many of the descriptions of Jesus refreshing, even if I had encountered them before. The descriptions of African culture and beliefs sometimes didn't seem to connect to the Christology that was being explained, but I chalk at least some of that up to my own cultural lense and lack of familiarity.
This book is written and edited by Catholic scholars, which didn't impact the writing in a way that felt at odds with myself as someone who isn't Catholic. But I did feel annoyed by the occasional use of Latin (it's a dead language, after all)

Overall I highly recommend this book as it does present Christology in a way that is distinct and valuable to the western Church, as well as a practical Christology that can better for our understanding of what it means to follow Jesus in the world we find ourselves in.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good collection of works from African theologians. A well-rounded look at liberation theology in Africa.