Nationalism and Anti-Nationalism Within African Political Theology

Dear Colleagues,

The partition of Africa in Berlin during the nineteenth century has led to the emergence of a number of countries whose boundaries are highly contested (Mbembe 2001). The ignorance of the colonial powers regarding the rich variety of civilizations in Africa created lines of division between peoples from the same languages and cultures. This has resulted in African nation states whose boundaries both separate and amalgamate various indigenous populations. Within this context, secessionist movements abound, with over 30 groups in more than 20 African countries.

The general relationship between nationalism and Christian theology is not a new area of research (Boyo 2021). For example, there have been a number of studies exploring the role of religion in the reconstruction of the nation state (Mugambi 1995; Villa Vicencio 1992; Bongmba 2018). More recently, a Hauerwasian trend within African theology has led to a variety of publications reflecting an anti-nationalist theological outlook (Katongole 2011; Ngong 2020). Thus, while armed groups within Nigeria, Congo, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Angola, and several others are struggling for the creation of nation states, theological reflection upon these postcolonial forms of nationalism is limited within African political theology.

This Special Issue, ‘Nationalism and Anti-Nationalism within African Political Theology’, encourages the submission of theological studies on the wide variety of secessionist movements across the continent, along with more general theological reflections upon the wider relationship between theology and nationalism in Africa. Studies evaluating the relationship between themes of nationalism, secession, Pentecostalism, public theology, liberation theology, theologies of reconstruction, and secession as decolonization are particularly encouraged. In exploring the intersection of religion, politics, and culture from an African perspective, this Special Issue will further the aims and scope of Religions’ interdisciplinary approach; in particular, the exploration of how national aspirations within this context are shaped by theological discourse supports the journal's goal of promoting critical research on the role of religion in contemporary society.

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200–300 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to the Guest Editor or to the Assistant Editor Ms. Violet Li (violet.li@mdpi.com) of Religions. Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editor for the purpose of ensuring their proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

References:

Bongmba, Elias K., ed. 2018. Religion and Social Reconstruction in Africa. 1st ed. London: Routledge.

Boyo, Bernard. 2021. The Church and Politics: A Theological Reflection. Carlisle: Langham Publishing.

Katongole, Emmanuel. 2011. The Sacrifice of Africa: A Political Theology for Africa. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Mbembe, Achille. 2001. On the Postcolony. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Mugambi, Jesse N. K. 1995. From Liberation to Reconstruction: African Christian Theology after the Cold War. Nairobi: East African Educational Publishers.

Ngong, David T. 2020. Recent Developments in African Political Theology. Political Theology 21: 545–63.

Villa-Vicencio, Charles. 1992. A Theology of Reconstruction: Nation-Building and Human Rights. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Dr. Daniel Pratt Morris-Chapman
Guest Editor

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