Centre of Inculturation » The Concept of God in the African Tradition

Sharing insights on the 1st School of Inculturations

In May 1993, the Centre of Inculturation held the 1st "School of Inculturation" in Nairobi, Kenya. It was the first seminar for the dialogue between Christianity and Africa's cultural and religious traditions.

The conference presentations were published in 2001 as the second publication from the Centre of Inculturation: “The Concept of God in the African Traditions". It has had a powerful impact on the Church in Africa and continues to resonate with the principles of inculturation today, a significant aspect of evangelisation.

The 1st "School of Inculturation" set the tone for realising the inspiration by Chiara Lubich, the foundress of the Focolare Movement. In 1992, during her visit to Kenya, she initiated and inaugurated the School of Inculturation and emphasised the commitment of the Focolare Movement to promote a sincere and respectful dialogue with African Traditional cultures and Religions. She highlighted the fact that the age-old religion of Africans cannot be dismissed or put under the category of paganism. Still, religion is a living expression of a deep sense of religiosity rooted in faith in a God who is transcendental yet experienced as being closer to the people.

Understanding Inculturation

One of the participants, Fr. Valentino Vadagnini, discussed inculturation in the documents of the Church's Magisterium. In his presentation, he highlighted key documents on inculturation, indicating how imperative it is to respect local cultures and their integration within the Christian faith. He also presented the balance between universality in the Gospel and the particularity of cultures as a means to proclaim the doctrinal foundation upon which inculturation's process must be built.

Focolare Movement's Approach

Another participant, Dr. Lucio Dal Soglio, gave a presentation on practices related to inculturation by the Focolare Movement. Among them is the concept of "making ourselves one," which involves entering deeply into the culture of others to understand and appreciate their values and beliefs. This approach is expressed using the "White Light" image, symbolising purity and unity in diversity. The "Spirituality of Communion" shows how the Focolare Movement promotes reciprocal interconnection and cultural enrichment.

In addition, Bruna Tomasi complemented the approach by discussing the understanding that "God is love". She also pointed out that love transforms human relationships. Tomasi called out the importance of responding to love with love, incorporating love in action, and recognising God as a Trinity of love.

The African Concept of God

Giuliano Ricciardi went on to provide a very comprehensive exploration of the traditional African concept of God. He pointed out the diversity and unity within African traditions, where the nature of God is deeply interwoven with life, spirits, and ancestors. He also highlighted the unitarian dimension of African spirituality, emphasising a holistic view of existence where the divine spreads through all aspects of life.

Living the Spirit of Inculturation

The School of Inculturation's approach, deeply rooted in the spirituality of the Focolare Movement, emphasises communion and unity in diversity. It emphasises the spirit of inculturation envisioned by Chiara Lubich that the diversity of all creation is meant to live in a relationship of harmony and peace. This vision calls for recognising and valuing the gifts of different cultures as expressions of God's love toward humankind. Christians are challenged, therefore, to live in love, seeing every person and every cultural encounter as a gift from God.

Impact and Ongoing Relevance

Even though this dialogue took place in 1993, it is timely and impactful today. The insights brought out from the 1st "School of Inculturation" aligned with the affirmations of the Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops at Rome in 1994. The Synod Bishops affirmed that inculturation is not just an option but an imperative necessity for effective evangelisation in Africa. This highlights the urgency of incorporating African values into the Christian message to enrich local cultures and the universal Church. Synodality continues to be a relevant and current issue.

In conclusion, the dialogue held during the 1st "School of Inculturation" was more than a seminar that took place. It was a moment of history in the movement towards a more inclusive and dialogical view of evangelisation. In so doing, the Focolare Movement is answering the call and has contributed significantly by centralising the rich traditions of African spirituality in their integration with the Christian message. This conference and its published documents confirm the joy and richness that will emerge from celebrating diversity in God's creation and living in real communion with nature and each other.

Click on the link below to see and order the published book from this school:

“The Concept of God in the African Traditions"