The Africana Bible: Reading Israel's Scriptures from Africa and the African Diaspora

by Hugh R. Page Jr., Randall C. Bailey (Editor), Valerie Bridgeman (Editor)

A landmark volume, The Africana Bible gathers multicultural and interdisciplinary perspectives on every book in the Hebrew Bible. It opens a critical window onto the world of interpretation on the African continent and in the multiple diasporas of African peoples, including the African-American experience, with attention to African history, literature, and culture, and Black diasporan backgrounds for understanding biblical literature.

The Africana Bible features a critical commentary on every book of the Hebrew Bible and the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha that are authoritative for many in African and African-diasporan communities worldwide. It highlights issues of concern to the global Black community (such as globalization and the colonial legacy) and the distinctive norms of interpretation in the African diaspora.

Genres: Religion, Biblical Studies, Nonfiction

389 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2009

About the author

The Rev. Canon Dr. Hugh Rowland Page Jr. (Ph.D., Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University; D.Min., Applied Ministries, Graduate Theological Foundation; M.Div General Theological Seminary; STM, General Theological Seminary; B.A, History, Hampton University) is an Episcopal priest, and Professor of Theology and Africana Studies Vice President and Associate Provost for Undergraduate Affairs at the University of Notre Dame. Page also oversees the University’s ROTC programs, the Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement, the Hesburgh-Yusko Scholars Program, and the TRiO Programs. He has previously chaired the Africana studies department.

Reviews

[J Percell Lakin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing Perspectives from the African Diaspora

An informative and rich collection of writings on Israel’s Scriptures rooted in the perspectives of those from the African Diaspora. A great resource for those who want to engage the Hebrew Bible in a way that is not from the dominant, imperial narratives of Eurocentric readings of the text.

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding basic commentary on every book of the Old Testament. The authors are African and African American who are clear about their Africana perspective and relate the Old Testament to the lived experience of the Africana Diaspora. The scholarship is top quality without using academic jargon so it is accessible to serious lay readers.

[Aysha Bisimwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is illuminating and helped answer, and also form, questions that I have been considering for some time. It is one I will go back to again for sure!

[Lori Neff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this Africana perspective on Scripture.

[CJ Bowen · Rating 2 out of 5]

A mixed bag - very much a conversation and not a commentary.