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Category: Monographs

What Causes War? The Sierra Leone Civil War (1991-2001) and the Christian Churches’ Responses

by Sheku Vadni

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The causes of the war in Sierra Leone are complex. This monograph sets out some of the background reasons for the conflict, and probes the cultural as well as the Christian theological and humanitarian responses to the war.

The author, a PhD graduate from Wales, gives some critical analysis of the war situation in Sierra Leone. Although his discussion of the war primarily relates to Sierra Leone, he also draws on material from other countries that have had a similar experience as that of Sierra Leone. Those countries include Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda in Africa as well as Cambodia in Asia and former Yugoslavia in Europe.

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Evangelicalism in Sierra Leone: The Struggles and Successes of an African Church, 1792-2001

by Sheku Vadni

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Since 1792, evangelical Christianity has been a major tradition within the Christian Churches in Sierra Leone. There is however a lack of awareness and deepening understanding of the origins, nature and distintives of evangelical Christianity in the modern Christian Church in Sierra Leone today. This is because the development of evangelical Christianity as a whole in the country has been examined very little. Church historians as well as denominations and organisations have left many aspects of evangelical Christianity in Sierra Leone untouched. This monograph written by a native of Sierra Leone and a PhD graduate from Wales draws attention to the history of evangelical Christianity in Sierra Leone and helps us establish what evangelical Christianity really is in Sierra Leone.

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Culture and Tradition: An Analytical Definition in an African Christian Context

by Sheku Vadni

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There are several landmarks in the discussion of the importance of culture and tradition in world Christian evangelisation. Those who have been engaged in these discussions range from the Edinburgh Conference in 1910 to the Lausanne Congress on World Evangel-isation of 1974. An African or a Western Christian cannot help but think about his or her problems in African or Western terms. This makes culture and tradition whether African or Western very important. Culture and tradition are not only achievement and advancement of material life but they are also an expression of spiritual, social and moral life. This monograph attempts to answer three basic questions about culture and tradition. They are, first, the definition of culture and tradition. Second, the identity of those cultural and traditional factors that prevent Christian churches from effectively proclaiming the Gospel in Africa. Third, the deep core worldview of culture and tradition that is persistent and resistant to change.

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Initiatory Rites in Sierra Leone: A Cultural, Medical, Political, Sociological, Religious and Theological

by Sheku Vadni

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Initiatory rites in Sierra Leone are a timeless traditional cultural practice. They are a 'secret' society practice never to be divulged on oath of death. Because it is difficult to separate ourselves from our culture and tradition, even Christians find it hard to actively engage with this vital subject of initiatory rites in the country.

This monograph concentrates on the initiatory rites of the Sandei 'secret' society in Sierra Leone. The origin of Sandei in Sierra Leone is uncertain but it was well established long before Christianity came to the country in the late eighteenth century. Equally, Sandei was practised long before Islam came to Africa including Sierra Leone. One estimate is that female circumcision is at least 6,000 years old. It has been suggested that 95% of provincial women are initiated in Sandei and that it has been able to adapt and spread in urban Freetown.

Sandei involves much more than just initiatory rites however. The principal element of female genital mutilation makes initiation in Sandei unacceptable to Christians and others in Sierra Leone. Evidence of its impact on adolescent girls is discussed in this monograph. The worship of deities, ancestral spirits, and religious practices by Sandei are explored as well.

Sheku Vandi presents the various cultural, medical, political, sociological, religious and theological arguments advanced by people for and against initiatory rites in Sandei in Sierra Leone. The issue of human rights for women and children, as well as strategies for the eradication of female genital mutilation in the initiatory rites of Sandei in the country are treated.

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Contextual Theologising: The Challenge for Pastoral Ministry in Africa

by Sheku Vadni

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Just as religious syncretism plagued the church in the days of the apologists, so it challenges the historic Christian faith in Africa today. In the first Christian centuries, North Africa provided us with some of the keenest intellectual and most influential apologists in Christendom to combat religious syncretism. These were Church Fathers like Origen, an Egyptian from Alexandria, and Augustine and Tertullian from Maghrib. Contemporary Christian intellectuals in Africa today are much preoccupied with inculturation and the search for identity. This, in part, is a reaction against European ethnocentrism in the past. Contemporary Christian intellectuals argue that Christianity, which has been called 'the third opportunity', came to Sub-Saharan Africa in European cultural garb and since then contextualisation of Christianity has been a major concern for the church in Africa.

In this monograph I discuss the meaning and challenge of contextualisation. I also discuss the danger 'syncretism' poses to contextualisation. 'Syncretism' happens when traditional cultural norms are allowed primacy over biblical truth in contextualisation. I further advise pastors, church leaders and missionaries upon finding answers to some cultural and traditional practices that are unhelpful to a strong Christian faith and the spiritual maturity of the church in Africa.

The arguments advanced by Sheku Vandi in this monograph, though religious leaders of different persuasions may disagree with them, are primarily concerned with assisting Christian churches in their own pastoral responsibilities as they impinge on the encounter between Christianity and traditional cultural practices in their lives. The interaction of the Gospel and culture in Africa has universal relevance and far-reaching significance for the global church.

Price: $3.26

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