Development as Peace

Wole Adegbile

Description

The colonial definition of development has not served Africa well. While Western assessments have generally revolved around a nation’s GDP, infrastructure, and the like, African cultures, and the Yoruba people in particular, have traditionally measured development in relation to the amount of peace experienced in a society and the wellbeing of its people.
In this study, Dr. Wole Adegbile examines the political, theological, and cultural contexts of contemporary development activity in Africa, including the impact of modernization theory on African nation-states. He then draws on traditional Yoruba political thoughts and practices, including the similarities between the Yoruba conception of a thriving community and the biblical principle of shalom, to formulate a contextual political theology of development that would holistically address cultural identity and spiritual restoration. Rooted in the intersection of Scripture and traditional African values, this book suggests a way forward for African society, its political leaders, and the church.

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• Philosophie et théologie
• State
• Politics

Informations

• Publié par: Langham Creative Projects
• Date de parution: 04 août 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781839738845
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

This book is an interesting integration of biblical revelation, Yoruba culture, politics, and development. This approach to formulate contextual theology is daring, exciting, fresh, and most welcoming. There is much to commend in the methodology, analysis, and application of global principles of theological enterprises to a particular culture – transformation, the holistic development of individual persons and society at large is the goal of the gospel. When this development is examined, explored, and elaborated as peace it becomes more fascinating. Thank you Wole, you have given us a good example of how to do Christian theology in the African context. I am proud of this book and wholeheartedly recommend it to all.
Emiola Nihinlola, PhD
Professor of Christian Theological Studies and President,
Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomosho
Dr. Wole Adegbile’s book, Development as Peace explores a contextual political theology of development using Yoruba traditional culture. The work is well researched and it makes a seminal contribution to the quest for development that is rooted in the African heritage, and one that is relevant and meets the aspirations of Africans. Adegbile argues the current modernization theory that undergirds the idea of African nation-state and development has not served Africa’s development agenda well. He proposes a contextual alternative to development, which draws on Yoruba political wisdom, that sees “development as peace.” The book’s strength lies in Adegbile’s skills in engaging the Yoruba culture by exploring its political thoughts and practices, by seeing Scripture as the main source for theological reflection, and offering a biblical, theological, and cultural critique of the modernization theory of development. He sees a correlation between both alaafia as the underlying Yoruba philosophy of “development as peace” and the biblical idea of shalom as the foundation for a biblical view of development and politics. I recommend the book for all development practitioners, students of development, development agencies engaged in community and government institutions, and policy makers on national development programmes, who want to do development that transforms communities.
James Nkansah-Obrempong, PhD
Dean, Nairobi Evangelical School of Theology,
Africa International University, Kenya

Development as Peace
A Contextual Political Theology of Development from Yoruba Culture
Wole Adegbile

© 2023 Wole Adegbile
Published 2023 by Langham Monographs
An imprint of Langham Publishing
www.langhampublishing.org
Langham Publishing and its imprints are a ministry of Langham Partnership
Langham Partnership
PO Box 296, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 9WZ, UK
www.langham.org
ISBNs:
978-1-83973-645-2 Print
978-1-83973-884-5 ePub
978-1-83973-885-2 PDF
Wole Adegbile has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 to be identified as the Author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher or the Copyright Licensing Agency.
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Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version (NKJV). Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (TLB) are taken from The Living Bible copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (AMP) are taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP), Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN: 978-1-83973-645-2
Cover & Book Design: projectluz.com
Langham Partnership actively supports theological dialogue and an author’s right to publish but does not necessarily endorse the views and opinions set forth here or in works referenced within this publication, nor can we guarantee technical and grammatical correctness. Langham Partnership does not accept any responsibility or liability to persons or property as a consequence of the reading, use or interpretation of its published content.

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To all my teachers, instructors, and mentors, from primary to graduate school
Contents

Cover


Preface


Chapter 1 Introduction


Africa’s Situation Characterised by “Chaos”


Failed Politics as a Cause of Poverty in Africa


The Uniqueness of the Book


Methodology and the Making of the Book


A Brief Note about the Yoruba People


Conclusion


Chapter 2 The Contextual Political Theology of Development


Introduction


The Emphasis on Relationship with God in Holistic Development Practice


Review of Models of Development Practices and Poverty Eradication in the Christian Church


Christian Evangelism and Social Services


The Prosperity Gospel as a Means of Development Intervention


The Church, Political Theology and Development


A Call for Contextual Political Theology of Development


Conclusion


Chapter 3 Àlàáfíà Lójù: Yoruba Traditional Developmental-Political Thoughts


Introduction


Life and Wellbeing in Yoruba Traditional Thought


Related Words for Wellbeing and Development in Yoruba Traditional Thought


The Concept of Sin and Its Implication on Wellbeing in the Yoruba Traditional Thought


The Essence of Iwa in Human Wellbeing in the Yoruba Traditional Thoughts


Yoruba Educational Philosophy and Its Implication for Development


The Role of Yoruba Politics in Development


Conclusion


Chapter 4 Kábíyèsí, Aláṣẹ Èkejì Òrìṣà : Yoruba Traditional Developmental-Political Practices


Introduction


The Political History of Yoruba


The Political Administration of Oyo Empire


Theological Reflection on the Political Administration of Oyo Empire


“ Kábíyèsí, Alá ṣ ẹ Èkejì Òrì ṣ à ”: The Sacred Kingship in Yorubaland


Theological Reflection on Yoruba Sacred Kingship


Religion, Rituals, and Community Wellbeing


King’s Role in Religion, Ritual, and Wellbeing


Theological Reflection on King’s Role in Religion, Ritual, and Wellbeing


The Yoruba Political Structure of Maintaining Peace, Justice, and Conflict Resolution


Conclusion


Chapter 5 Modernization Theory of Development and its Implications for African Nation-State Politics


Introduction


Modernization Theory and Development


The Positive Aspects of Modernization Theory


Negative Effects of Modernization on African Developmental-Political Life


Conclusion


Chapter 6 Politics that Fosters Development: Lessons from Yoruba Traditional Developmental-Political Thoughts and Practices


Introduction


Biblical Order of Developmental-Politics


Review of Modernization Theory and Its Implications for Development in Africa


Implications from Yoruba Traditional Developmental-Political Thoughts and Practices


Conclusion


Chapter 7 Way Forward


Lessons from Biblically Correlated Yoruba Developmental-Political Thoughts and Practices


Major Biblical Antitheses of Yoruba Traditional Developmental-Political Thoughts and Practices


Lessons and Biblical Correlations of Modernization Theory


Negative Effects and Biblical Antitheses of Modernization Theory


Way Forward


Bibliography


Books and Dictionaries


Journals


Theses, Dissertations, Magazines and Unpublished Materials


Internet Sources


Movies


Oral Sources


Glossary of Yoruba Terms Used


Appendix Some Yoruba Cities in the Middle Ages


About Langham Partnership

Endnotes
Preface
Africa has learned so much from the West, especially through modernization. Meanwhile, the West also has something to learn from Africa. And more importantly, Africa has so much to learn from itself, from its own traditional way of life. My hope is that with this book, contemporary Africa, the West, and the entire world will learn something from traditional Africa.
I have undertaken this study on theology, politics, culture, and development with the aim to do and advocate a “contextual political theology of development.” I hold that politics should be done in God’s way, and development should be carried out from a holistic perspective, and that both political and developmental endeavours should be of relevance to cultural identity. If there exists a favourable political environment that promotes human wellbeing and growth, then development always ensues. Establishing the right political environment entails following God’s purposes and fulfilling the aspirations of the common people.
I initially wanted to write about Africa, but Africa is vast. I therefore resolved to write about the portion of Africa that I am most familiar with by virtue of birth, a portion of Africa occupied by the Yoruba people of Nigeria. I am aware that the discussion would be richer if I brought different perspectives from different African contexts rather than limiting myself to