Christology for African Community in View of African Ancestors

Africa is an exciting and diverse continent. It’s a world where the physical and the spiritual come together. This is especially notable when one explores the traditional African belief of ancestors among many other beliefs. Ancestral belief is a significant part of countless African communities, and even among some African Christians. It is my hope when comparing the characteristics of the African ancestors with that of our Lord Jesus Christ, we will come to find that while some of Jesus’s characteristics are relatable, they are ultimately incomparable, fulfilling all positive notions of African ancestors. More than that, Jesus, the God-Man, comes and offers us and our communities hope and redemption. In this article we will begin by seeking to understand ancestral belief, after which we will identify some characteristics from the ancestors and see how those of Jesus Christ compare, thus developing a Christology relatable for Africa. Each of these characteristics will begin with a brief identification, followed by biblical and theological discussions. The last section will show that Christ the Redeemer of African community has offered superabundant fulfilment of ancestral characteristics.