How Christianity Became Africans’ Own Traditional Religion

Abstract

This article explores the transformative journey of Christianity in sub-Saharan Africa, arguing that the faith has evolved from a perceived "white man’s religion" into a genuine African traditional religion. While initially introduced by Western missionaries as an extension of European culture—often dismissing indigenous customs—Christianity has since undergone a profound process of de-foreignization. The author contends that through the internalization of faith and the translation of the Bible into vernacular languages, African Christians have reclaimed the Gospel as their own. Today, the faith is no longer viewed as an alien import but as a central pillar of communal identity, preserved and transmitted across generations as a living, indigenous tradition. Supporting this claim are several "theo-anthropological proofs" that distinguish the African church from its Western parent. These include a robust belief in supernatural intervention and spiritual warfare, a strict adherence to the infallible authority of Scripture, and an intense passion for local evangelism. Furthermore, African Christianity is defined by a "communitarian" worldview—rooted in the concept of Obuntu, where individual identity is tied to the collective—and a dynamic prayer life that integrates local languages and customs. This spiritual vitality is reflected in the continent’s demographic explosion, with the Christian population projected to reach 1.9 billion by 2050. Ultimately, the article concludes that while Christianity’s public influence may be waning in the West, it has found a vibrant and permanent home as a foundational African tradition.