Hinga: In Africa, enculturation must go farther

Theologian Teresia Hinga of Kenya told CTA how religious pluralism is a daily reality in villages across Africa: Islam and tribal religions co-exist with Christianity. "Dialogue must be our way of defining ourselves," she said, "while seeing other religions as valuable in their own right." As long as church rules require wheat bread and grape wine - expensive foreign commodities that must be imported, "enculturation hasn't gone far enough," she said. Also, "people are being de facto excommunicated" because with the priest shortage they rarely celebrate Eucharist.

Violence against women in Africa has been reinforced by the patriarchal message of the religions, including Christianity, which keep women silent. Since 1989 Hinga and 70 other African women theologians have worked together on a theology that gives women their voice. Their motto is Jesus' words reviving the daughter of Jairus: "Young woman, I say to you, arise."