The Sacrifice of Africa: A Political Theology for Africa (Eerdmans Ekklesia Series

by Emmanuel M. Katongole

Emmauel Katongole is a Catholic priest from Uganda, born in 1960, who lived through the reign of Idi Amin and has seen the postcolonial struggles of his home country and its sub-Saharan neighbors ― Rwanda, the Congo, Zimbabwe, Liberia, and others ― up close and personal.

Looking at this region, ravaged by war, corruption, terror, genocide, and disease, Katongole wonders at length what difference Christianity makes ― or could make ― in numerous African nation-states. The Sacrifice of Africa argues that in the face of Africa’s social, political, and economic turmoil, a new future truly is possible, and displays how such a new future, inspired by Christian faith, looks.

Genres: Africa, Theology, Nonfiction, Christian

215 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2010

About the author

Emmanuel Katongole earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from the Catholic University of Louvain and a diploma in theology and religious studies from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda.

He is an expert in the study of Africa, the theology of reconciliation and lament, and Catholicism in the global South.

Reviews

[Matthew Loftus · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating exploration of political theology from an African perspective that wrestles with the neocolonialism rampant in African nations and challenges some of the most common Christian approaches to it. A must-read for all missionaries to Africa.

[Joel · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating is perhaps unfair as I was not prepared for academic prose and approach. Further, I struggled with Katongole's overall objective, but this view is subjective in light of my own struggles with faith. Perhaps if I were in a different head space, I would have felt differently.

[Greg Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of Eerdmans Ekklesia series on the primacy of the church’s role in the world. Well-written and important book with several prominent stories about incredible women in Africa doing things that require courage, faith in Christ and the model of kenosis (self-emptying) and some of the qualities Katongole discusses: touch of madness, stubbornness that violence will not have the last word.

Ugandan ethicist and Catholic priest tells stories of political and religious leaders who share qualities of stubbornness of non-conformity, touches of madness, and willingness to jettison old formulas. Says Africa has lived out a false narrative of violence, corruption, and ethnic hatred, and big world organizations trying to “fix” these problems have failed repeatedly because they lack what the church must provide. Every person involved in African life, politics, social ethics, and church should read this book.

[Todd Putney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Important and relevant. This is a political theology. Katongole wrestles with the colonial history of Africa which bred tribalism and violence. He argues for new stories for the people rather than the old western myths. As a Christian he also wants to know how such a Christian continent can breed so much violence and hatred. He tells stories of people who are changing life there by living the dream of the Kingdom of God.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

The thesis of the book was not as fully developed as I would have liked, and it would have been good if he had interacted with earlier Catholic thinkers. The most enjoyable portion was probably the portraits of the three Africans who are making a difference on the continent and living out the reality of the Kingdom of God.