Abstract

The real starting point of African Theology came from a European Franciscan – Fr Placide Tempels, who worked as missionary in Belgian Congo. Therefore three phases can be distinguished in the movement toward an African Theology. First – the investigations of Tempels. Second – the African theological consciousness. And third – criticism offered by the modern generation. Among those who can be called African Theologians and are perhaps the best known are: Ch. Nyamiti, J. Mbiti, E.J. Penoukou, B. Bujo, J.S. Pobee, J. Parrat and M. Ntetem. Contemporary African Theology tries to be contextual, that is, it takes into account the actual African situation. Theology in Africa has a variety and richness that few in the Western World suspect. Examples of different approaches to theology show that so called African Theology may take different forms. There is the “cultural theology” advocated by Protestant theologians; there is a second approach characteristic of many Roman Catholic theologians, which seeks to analyse African religions; and there is Black Theology in South Africa, which stresses the economic, political and social context of the Gospel. Theology in Africa is not only a modern practical task, but one whose results can greatly enrich Christendom as a whole.