On January 29, 2025, Hekima University College (HUC) hosted a thought-provoking conference on The Future of African Theology in a Continent Longing for a New World Order. At the center of this discourse were two distinguished speakers: Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, of the Diocese of Sokoto in Northern Nigeria and chairman of the Committee for Interreligious Dialogue of the Nigerian episcopate, and Bishop Rodrigo Mejía, SJ, emeritus apostolic vicar of Soddo in Ethiopia, and current holder of the African Chair in Theological Studies at HUC. Their interventions underscored the urgency of a theology that is not confined to academic circles but actively engages with Africa’s social and political realities.
A Theology that Meets African Challenges
Opening the conference and welcoming the two speakers, Fr. Marcel Uwineza, SJ, Principal of HUC, emphasized the immense challenges facing the African continent and the yearning of its people for a new world order. For Fr. Uwineza, African theology has a critical role in constructing such a world that upholds the dignity of all human beings and is not solely driven by economic and political interests but infused with moral and spiritual integrity. Africa, he argued, must not remain a mere recipient of global benevolence but should assert itself as an active participant in shaping the future of humanity.
In his talk, Why the Church Cannot Be Spectators, Bishop Kukah took the audience on a historical journey illustrating how Africa’s challenges demand that the Church be more than a passive observer. For the Nigerian prelate, “we have to become wounded healers.” He cautioned against conflating political engagement with partisan politics, a misunderstanding that often leads the Church to retreat from public life for fear of being tainted by the so-called “dirty game” of politics. “We have to deal with very practical issues of the brokenness of the African continent today,” he asserted.
Bishop Kukah pointed to historical examples of the Church’s role in driving moral and social transformation, particularly the influence of Catholic leadership in global justice movements. The ordinary of Sokoto reminded the audience of Saint John Paul II’s legacy. The Polish pontiff “made us understand that political engagement in a dysfunctional society is an imperative.” While prayer remains essential, he argued, it is insufficient on its own; Christians must actively participate in political processes, analyze societal issues, and seek solutions. The question is not whether the Church has the capacity to act, but whether it will harness its potential effectively, he explained.
Changing Methodology for Transforming the Society
Bishop Rodrigo Mejía, SJ, expanded on this vision, affirming that the mission of African theology is to be “the yeast of society,” working to transform African cultures and structures in light of the values of the Kingdom of God: “truth and light, holiness and grace, justice, love, and peace.” He stressed that African theology must revisit the very notion of evangelization, as it is through evangelization that theology finds its power.
Quoting Saint Paul VI’s encyclical Evangelii Nuntiandi, Bishop Mejía emphasized that the purpose of evangelization is “the interior change of society” – a process that transforms through the proclamation of the Gospel not only individual consciences but also the collective consciousness of peoples, their social structures, and cultural expressions. This, he argued, requires a shift in theological methodology. Instead of being an “archeology,” looking nostalgically to the past, African theology must engage with the living cultures and realities of the people in order to inspire true transformation. This approach demands starting from concrete experience – culture, context, and social realities – before moving to theological reflection and analysis, ultimately leading to responses that can bring meaningful change.
A Call to Action
The conference concluded with a powerful call to theologians and all members of the Church, in a synodal perspective, to embrace their prophetic role in building more just and equitable societies. Engaging with political realities should not be seen as an option to be avoided but as an essential dimension of the Church’s mission. In this regard, Bishop Kukah highlighted the role that Hekima University College can play as a hub of knowledge, dialogue, and influence for the Church within society.
The event concluded with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Bishop Kukah, with Bishop Rodrigo Mejía, Fr. José Minaku, president of the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar (JCAM), and Fr Uwineza, as concelebrants. The presider invited the assembly to pray and work actively wherever they are planted, so that they may find God’s consolation in having used His blessings and gifts for the service of others.
By Christian Kombe, SJ