Prosperity Gospel in Zambia: The Problems of Engaging African Theology Using English
My own methodological conclusion, drawing on the above observations, is to suggest that serious African theology must be engaged using African languages, using those languages as understood with respect to African ways of life. Continuing to engage African theology using Western English, as this book tries to do, may be a distraction from the important task of doing truly African research.
A member of the Alur tribe in Congo once explained to me that it was a tradition amongst their people, that their names should always be ‘depressing’. As a reflection of their take on life, they would call their children ‘Death is near’, ‘I am cursed’, ‘There’s no hope’, ‘Loveless’, and such like. Anyone who broke out of the mould, and dared call their child ‘Blessed’, or ‘Beloved’, or ‘Successful’, was mocked, scorned, disdained, ostracised. Thus the envious were kept at bay. When faith in Christ came to these people, that faith gradually enabled the Alur people to break out of the accursed prison of death-oriented naming. “Alur Christians [could be] identified by their Alur Christian names such as Pirwoth (because of the Lord), Uyirwoth (believe in the Lord), Mungujakisa (God is merciful), Munguromo (God is able), Kwiyocwiny (peace) and Merber (love in good),” (Atido 2015:22).
Let us rejoice: The Gospel has set Zambian people free! One person can be wealthy while another remains poor – and it doesn’t matter! He won’t be bewitched, fellow believers won’t drag him down, the blood of Jesus will protect him from witches’ power!
Reviewed by Jim Harries
Publisher’s page: https://wipfandstock.com/in-search-of-health-and-wealth.html
Preview In Search of Health and Wealth: https://books.google.com/books?id=B2sNBQAAQBAJ
Bibliography
Atido, Geroge Pirwoth, 2015, ‘Religious Identity and Mobility Among Alur Christians in Northeastern Congo,’ PhD Thesis, Africa International University, Nairobi.