AACC Convenes a continental consultation on African Perspectives on Decolonization and Reparations debates in Global Christianity

Discourses on decolonization and calls for reparations for historical injustices are gaining momentum globally, cutting into various aspects of Africa’s developmental agendas and aspirations. In fact, the African Union designated the theme of the year 2025 as ‘Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparation.’ This reflects the centrality of the notion of decolonization and reparation in the current work of the African Union and its partners. Given the need to engage with the various critical questions on the church's mission and its role in sustainable development that these discourses present to the African churches and their ecumenical partners, the AACC has convened a continental consultation on the African Churches perspectives on decolonization and reparations.

Opened on 4th June 2025 to run till 6th June 2025 at the Desmond Tutu Conference Center in Nairobi, Kenya, the consultation convened 40 African Church leaders including lay theologians, ordained leaders, young theologians and theological educators from across the continent.  

In his opening Remarks, the AACC General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Fidon Mwombeki noted that as much as many church synods are not engaging on the topic of decolonization, there is a need for a proper voice on Africa to contribute to the ongoing conversations at regional and global levels. He cautioned against the tendency of different parties speaking for Africans without listening to Africans and encouraged participants to strive to discern together a discussion paper to guide the churches engagements and accompany the continental work on decolonization and Reparations.

To set the pace for discussion, Rev Prof. Helen Ishola-Esan, the President, Baptist Theological Seminary, Eku, Nigeria noted that in contemporary discourse, decolonization goes far beyond the mere transfer of political authority to dismantling colonial legacies in every sphere of life; economic, cultural, educational, psychological, and epistemological.

“For African Churches, decolonization involves more than rejecting Western theology and entails reconstructing Christianity through African lenses.” She expressed.

Speaking to the Tanzanian Context, the Archbishop of the Anglican Church in Tanzania, Most Rev. Maimbo Mndolwa highlighted the divided perspectives on decolonization and reparation with many in favor of the agenda and a significant other not even expressing any interests in the topic.

Reflecting on the nexus between mission and colonialism, Rev. Dr. Jeannie Normel Dorgeles from the Methodist church in Ivory Coast stressed the need for the consultation to help participants define the meeting point between the western world and authentic African Christianity.

In the photo: Participants during an open discussion following the opening session of the consultation [Courtesy - Muyunga Brian].