Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa

by Ross, Kenneth R.; Asamoah-Gyadu, J. Kwabena; Johnson, Todd M.

• ISBN13: 9781474412032
• ISBN10: 1474412033
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2017-06-01
• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Summary

This comprehensive reference volume covers every country in Sub-Saharan Africa, offering reliable demographic information and original interpretative essays by indigenous scholars and practitioners. It maps patterns of growth and decline, assesses major traditions and movements, analyses key themes and examines current trends.

Key Features

Profiles of Christianity in every country in Sub-Saharan Africa including clearly presented statistical and demographic information

Analyses of leading features and current trends written by indigenous scholars

Essays examining each of the major Christian traditions (Anglicans, Independents, Orthodox, Protestants, Roman Catholics, Evangelicals, Pentecostals/ Charismatics)

Essays exploring key themes such as faith and culture, worship and spirituality, theology, social and political engagement, mission and evangelism, religious freedom, inter-faith relations, slavery, anthropology of evil, and migration

Author Biography

Kenneth Ross, formerly Professor of Theology at the University of Malawi, has also served as General Secretary of the Church of Scotland Board of World Mission. Over the last three decades he has published extensively on Global Christianity. Currently he is parish minister at Netherlorn in Argyll, Honorary Fellow of Edinburgh University School of Divinity, and Chair of the Scotland Malawi Partnership. He was awarded the OBE in the Queen's New Year Honours in 2016. His books include Gospel Ferment in Malawi: Theological Essays (1995) and Here Comes Your King! Christ, Church and Nation in Malawi (1998).

J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu is Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, is Baëta-Grau Professor of Contemporary African Christianity and Pentecostal/Charismatic Theology at the Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon, Ghana. He has served as Visiting Scholar to Harvard University; Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota; the Overseas Center for Mission Studies, New Haven; and Asbury Seminary, in Kentucky. He is author of Contemporary Pentecostal Christianity: Interpretations from an African Context (2013) and African Charismatics: Current Developments within Independent Indigenous Pentecostalism in Ghana (2005). He is co-editor of Pentecostal Mission and Global Christianity (2014) and Babel is Everywhere! Migrant Readings from Africa, Europe and Asia (2013).

Todd M. Johnson is Associate Professor of Global Christianity and Director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston. He is Associate Faculty at Boston University's Institute for Culture, Religion and World Affairs leading a research project on international religious demography. He has published encyclopedias, atlases, databases, monographs, and scholarly articles on counting religionists around the world. Todd M. Johnson is also Research Fellow in the Study of Global Christianity and Director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity (CSGC) at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He is the co-author (with David Barrett and George T. Kurian) of the second edition of the World Christian encyclopedia (2001) and World Christian Trends (2001). He is editor of the World Christian Database (2007) located at www.worldchristiandatabase.org.

Table of Contents

Contents
Series Preface
Volume Preface
Contributors

Introduction: Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa, J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu

Countries

South Africa, Tinyiko Maluleke
Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia and Botswana, James Amanze
Mozambique, Isaias Titoce
Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi, Hany Longwe
Madagascar, Solomon Andriatsimialomananarivo
Mauritius, Rodney Curpanen
Reunion, Jacqueline Andoche and Valérie Aubourg
Seychelles, Comoros, Mayotte and Saint Helena, Todd M. Johnson and Kenneth R. Ross
Kenya and Tanzania, Wanjiru Gitau
Rwanda and Burundi, Tharcisse Gatwa
Uganda and South Sudan, Richard Nnyombi
Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and Djibouti, Tibebe Eshete
Angola, Sao Tome and Principe, Luciano Chianeque
Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, Jean-Gottfried Mutombo
Central African Republic, Togo, Ivory Coast, Benin and Cameroon, Elias Bongmba
Nigeria, Elijah Obinna
Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Cephas N. Omenyo
Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde, Simon K. Dossou
Niger, Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso and Mauritania, Emmanuel Foro

Major Christian Traditions

Anglicans, James Tengatenga
Independents, Nicta Lubaale
Orthodox, Daniel Seifemichael and Ralph Lee
Protestants, Setri Nyomi
Roman Catholics, Anthony Egan
Evangelicals, Tony Balcomb
Pentecostals/Charismatics, Deji Isaac Ayegboyin and Michael Ogunewu

Key Themes

Faith and Culture, Mary Getui
Worship and Spirituality, John S. Pobee
Theology, Francis Anekwe Oborji
Social and Political Context, Musa W. Dube and Malebogo Kgalemang
Mission and Evangelism, Esther Mombo
Gender, Isabel Apawo Phiri and Chammah Kaunda
Religious Freedom, Frans Veerman and Christof Sauer
Inter-religious Relations, Evaristi Cornelli
The Bible in African Christianity, Ukachukwu Chris Manus
The Anthropology of Evil, Afe Adogame
Migration, Amélé Ekué

Conclusion: The Future of Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa, Mercy Amba Oduyoye