BiAS 7 – The Bible and Politics in Africa
much better than Thabo Mbeki” one begins to appreciate the importance
that is attached not only to Bible knowledge but most importantly Bible
usage across African societies today. Our interest in the Bible was also
driven by the realization that “what gives biblical faith its foundation and
shape is the idea of God who has acted in history” (McClanahan
1999:178-9), suggesting that not only is the Bible a resource for Christian
spirituality, it also is a resource for daily living in ways that some of the
contributions in this volume will try to elaborate. In doing this, we
sought to challenge ourselves as biblical scholars to consider responses
to the challenges facing the African continent, which make these chal-
lenges clearly multisectoral and thereby calling upon all to respond.
The second major component of the theme was politics, politics in Af-
rica or politics in the West. While the interest was on the interface be-
tween the Bible and Politics in Africa, we were not interested in limiting
politics to national or party politics only, or even to a single political
system. We did not and do not think that the Bible speaks for a single
and particular political system, we rather are more agreeable that central
to the desired biblical human community is the demand for justice,
equity and equality. We were, therefore, driven by a loose understanding
of politics as “anything that involves decision making, and usually char-
acterised by diversity and conflict” according to Tapiwa Mapuranga in
this volume. This broad understanding of politics meant the conference
discussions and presentations touched on varied subjects and this is
fairly reflected in this volume. The third major component of the theme
has to do with Africa, the context from which most of the discussions
would be emanating from or would be targeted at. Africa today is a divi-
sive subject such that the „mention of the African continent brings
many memories and images flooding into our minds. For some, Africa
is synonymous with strife, hunger, corruption and lately human rights
abuses. For others, Africa is synonymous with rich resources, minerals,
metals and fertile soils. Yet for others, Africa is synonymous with
“rampant mass victimization”, exploitation and plunders through
slavery, colonialism, neo-colonialism, capitalism, and lately despotism
has reduced most Africans to victims“ (Gunda in this volume).
The challenges facing Africa and the continued meteoric growth of
Christianity in Africa coupled with the entrenchment of the Bible as the
primary African book in most sub-Saharan African countries meant that
Africa provided an important background to broach the subject of the