Port Harcourt, Nigeria: (CESSAC Reporters: Osemhantie O, Arinze L, & Famgba P)
On Day 2 of the ongoing 33rd Theology Week Conference of the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), Port Harcourt, Nigeria, a key discussion has emerged regarding the state of African theology in the period following the release of the pivotal post-synodal apostolic exhortation, Africae Munus , in 2011.
Africae Munus , meaning “Africa’s commitment,” is the product of the Second African Synod held in Rome in 2009. The Synod focused on the theme: “The Church in Africa at the Service of Reconciliation, Justice, and Peace.”
Professor Ikechukwu Anthony Kanu OSA, an Augustinian priest and professor of African philosophy and religion at the Tansian University, Umunya, Nigeria, delivered a lead paper titled, “African Theology in the Period after Africae Munus ” during a plenary session.
Professor Kanu challenged the Church in Africa to embrace elements within its own culture that can serve as a foundation for the Gospel message. He argued that doing so would not only enrich the universal Church but also contribute to the maturity of African theology.
“The Church’s commitment to service, reconciliation, justice, and peace,โ he said, โmust help societies to put Christ at the center of the world and build a just social order.”
To address the complex social issues faced by African societies today, Professor Kanu proposed a deeper theological approach that emphasizes how to bring about the fruits of God’s kingdom in the present context. He offered two key methods for achieving this: Socio-theological analysis of Africa’s social context and harnessing of Africa’s resources.
By way of contextualizing his research, Professor Kanu rooted his presentation in a social sciences methodology that aligns with the Igwebuike theological framework, which emphasizes the importance of African context and experience in theological reflection.
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