ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

An evangelical voice in Africa: The worldview background of the theology of Tokunboh Adeyemo (1 October 1944 - 17 March 2010)¹

 

'n Evangeliese stem in Afrika: Die lewensbeskoulike agtergrond van die teologie van Tokunboh Adeyemo (1 Oktober 1944 - 17 Maart 2010)

 

 

B.J. van der Walt

School of Philosophy, Potchefstroom Campus. North-West University. Potchefstroom. E-mail: benniejvanderwalt@gmail.com

 

 

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ABSTRACT

Africa was blessed with a son of the calibre of Dr Tokunboh Adeyemo. Since he only recently passed away, we do not yet have (as far as the author is aware) an assessment of the legacy of this eminent Christian leader. This article is the first preliminary evaluation written from a reformational worldview perspective.
The set-up of the investigation is as follows: Firstly, a brief outline is given of his life history, especially his training in the Evangelical tradition. Then, the décor (the overall situation of African Christianity) that was the background against which he lived and worked is painted. Thirdly, it is followed by the strengths and weaknesses of Evangelical Christianity of which Adeyemo was a representative. Fourthly, it is indicated how Adeyemo thought in line with post-Lausanne Evangelicalism. In the fifth place a preliminary worldview evaluation of his legacy is given. To assist possible future research a bibliography of his most important publications concludes the investigation.

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OPSOMMING

Afrika was geseënd met 'n seun van die kaliber van dr. Tokunboh Adeyemo. Aangesien hy onlangs oorlede is, beskik ons nog nie (sover die skrywer weet) oor 'n waardering van die nalatenskap van hierdie voortreflike Christen Afrikaleier nie. Hierdie artikel is die eerste voorlopige evaluering vanuit 'n reformatoriese lewensbeskoulike hoek.
Die ondersoek ontwikkel soos volg: Eerstens word 'n kort oorsig van sy lewensgeskiedenis gebied, veral ten opsigte van sy opleiding in die evangeliese tradisie. Dan word die dekor (die algemene toestand van die Afrika-Christendom) geskets - die agtergrond waarteen hy gelewe en gedink het. Dit word, in die derde plek, gevolg deur 'n kort analise van die sterk- en swakpunte van die evangeliese Christendom waarvan Adeyemo 'n verteenwoordiger was. In die vierde plek word kortliks aangetoon hoe Adeyemo, in ooreenstemming met die post-Lausanne evangelikalisme, gedink het. Vyfdens word 'n voorlopige waardering van sy nalatenskap gegee. Die artikel word (met die oog op hulp aan toekomstige navorsers), afgesluit met 'n bibliografie van sy belangrikste publikasies.

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List of references

Works by T. Adeyemo

This bibliography is not complete (for instance, it does not include Adeyemo's articles in the popular newsletter, Afroscope, the official publication of the AEA.). However, it does contain Adeyemo's most important publications. Since the author has no knowledge of a similar, fairly representative bibliography (except for Breman, 1996b:594-551), this one can be seen as a beginning for the research in this article and as a basis for a later more inclusive bibliography. (Publications, to which no reference is made in the text above, are therefore also included.)

ADEYEMO, T. 1976a. The doctrine of salvation in African Traditional Religion. La Mirada: Talbot Theological Seminary. (M.Div.Thesis.)²        [ Links ]

ADEYEMO, T. 1976b. A theological critique of church indigenization in Africa. La Mirada: Talbot Theological Seminary. (Th.M. thesis.         [ Links ])

ADEYEMO, T. 1978. The doctrine of God in African traditional religion. Dallas: Dallas Theological Seminary. (Doctor of Theology Thesis.         [ Links ])

ADEYEMO, T. 1979a. Salvation in African tradition. Nairobi: Evangel Publishing House. (New edition, cf. 1997a.         [ Links ])

ADEYEMO, T. 1979b. African traditional religion, Christianity and Islam: a socio-theological enquiry of continuity and discontinuity in conversion. Aberdeen: University of Aberdeen. (Ph.D. thesis.         [ Links ])

ADEYEMO, T. 1984-1993: Approximately 30 editorial and other articles in the journal Transformation: an international journal of holistic mission studies. (Available without charge on the Internet.         [ Links ])

ADEYEMO, T. 1984a. The church in Africa today. Orientation: international circular of the PU for CHE, 32:22-36, Mar.         [ Links ]

ADEYEMO, T. 1984b. The social responsibility of the church. Orientation: international circular of the PU for CHE, 33:74-93, Jun.         [ Links ]

ADEYEMO, T. 1984c. The gospel in African context. Orientation: international circular of the PU for CHE, 35:50-58, Dec.         [ Links ]

ADEYEMO, T. 1984d. Church in Africa today and tomorrow. Nairobi: Evangel Publishing House.         [ Links ]

ADEYEMO, T. 1985a. The church in Africa during the next five years. Orientation: international circular of the PU for CHE, 39:1 -16, Dec.         [ Links ]

ADEYEMO, T. 1985b. The task of nation building. Orientation: international circular of the PU for CHE, 39:57-65, Dec.         [ Links ]

ADEYEMO, T. 1986. Christ's ambassadors in an Islamic context. Potchefstroom: Institute for Reformational Studies. (Study pamphlet no. 224.         [ Links ])

ADEYEMO, T. 1988. Following Jesus in Africa today. Nairobi: AEAM.         [ Links ]

ADEYEMO, T. 1990a. The church in Africa today. (In Okoronkwo, G., ed. Church and society ... can they work in harmony? Nairobi: Association of Evangelicals in Africa. p. 9-21.         [ Links ])

ADEYEMO, T. 1990b. Where the Evangelicals stand in socio-political issues. (In Okoronkwo, G., ed. Church and society ... can they work in harmony? Nairobi: Association of Evangelicals in Africa. p. 22-29.         [ Links ])

ADEYEMO, T. 1991a. Law and grace. (In Okoronkwo, G., ed. Social ethics in African Christian theology. Nairobi: Association of Evangelicals in Africa. p. 42-46.         [ Links ])

ADEYEMO, T. 1991b. The church as an agent of change in Africa. Nairobi: AEAM.         [ Links ]

ADEYEMO, T. 1992. Africa at a crossroad. Nairobi: Association of Evangelicals in Africa.         [ Links ]

ADEYEMO, T. 1993a. The making of a servant leader. Nairobi: Christian Learning Materials Centre.         [ Links ]

ADEYEMO, T., ed. 1993b. A Christian mind in a changing Africa. Nairobi: Association of Evangelicals in Africa.         [ Links ]

ADEYEMO, T. 1993c. African worldview and its socio-economic and political implications. (In Adeyemo, T., ed. A Christian mind in a changing Africa. Nairobi: Association of Evangelicals in Africa. p. 7-23.         [ Links ])

ADEYEMO, T. 1994a. Beyond Africa: the African Church's global involvement in missions. Nairobi: Association of Evangelicals in Africa.         [ Links ]

ADEYEMO, T. 1994b. African contribution to Christendom. Nairobi: Association of Evangelicals in Africa.         [ Links ]

ADEYEMO, T. 1995. Reflections on the state of Christianity in Africa. Potchefstroom: Institute for Reformational Studies. (Study pamphlet no. 332.         [ Links ])

ADEYEMO, T. 1997a. Salvation in African tradition. Nairobi: Evangel Publishing House. (Revised ed. of 1979a.         [ Links ])

ADEYEMO, T. 1997b. Is Africa cursed? Nairobi: Christian Learning Materials Centre.         [ Links ]

ADEYEMO, T., ed. 2006a. Africa Bible commentary: a one-volume commentary written by 70 African scholars. Nairobi: WordAlive Publishers.         [ Links ]

ADEYEMO, T. 2006b. Ideas of salvation in other religions. (In Adeyemo, T., ed. Africa Bible Commentary. Nairobi: WordAlive Publishers. p. 1353.         [ Links ])

ADEYEMO, T. 2006c. Religious pluralism. (In Adeyemo, T., ed. Africa Bible Commentary. Nairobi: WordAlive Publishers. p. 1532.         [ Links ])

ADEYEMO, T. 2006d. Leadership. (In Adeyemo, T., ed. Africa Bible Commentary. Nairobi: WordAlive Publishers. p. 546.         [ Links ])

ADEYEMO, T. 2009. Africa's enigma and leadership solutions. Nairobi: WordAlive Publishers.         [ Links ]

ADEYEMO, T. & AYEE, E., eds. 1989a. Following Jesus in a plurasistic society. Nairobi: AEAM.         [ Links ]

ADEYEMO, T. & AYEE, E., eds. 1989b. Following Jesus in a segregational society. Nairobi: AEAM.         [ Links ]

ADEYEMO, T., OKORONKWO, G. & AYEE, E., eds. 1988. Following Jesus in a rich-poor society. Nairobi: AEAM.         [ Links ]

Other sources consulted

ADEYEMO, I. 2010. Eulogy (at her husband's funeral on 26 March 2010 in the church at Ibadan, Nigeria) (Unpublished.         [ Links ])

AEAMvsee ASSOCIATION OF EVANGELICALS IN AFRICA AND MADAGASCAR

ANON. 2008. Faith on the move: Pentecostalism and its potential contribution to development. Parktown: Center for Development Studies.         [ Links ]

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ASSOCIATION OF EVANGELICALS IN AFRICA AND MADAGASCAR. 1984. Church in Africa today and tomorrow. Proceedings of AEAM 4th General Assembly, Malawi. Nairobi: Evangel Publishing House.         [ Links ]

BEDIAKO, K. 1992. Theology and identity: the impact of culture upon Christian thought in the second century and in modern Africa. Oxford: Regnum Books.         [ Links ]

BOER, J.H. 2003. Nigeria's decade of blood. Belleville: Essence Publications. (Studies in Christian-Muslim relations, vol. 1).         [ Links ]

BREMAN, C.M. 1996a. Portrait of dr. Byang Kato. African journal of evangelical theology, 15(2):135-151.         [ Links ]

BREMAN, C.M. 1996b. The Association of Evangelicals in Africa: its history, organization, members, projects, external relations and message. Zoetermeer: Uitgeverij Boekencentrum.         [ Links ]

COLE, V.B. 2010. Eulogy (at the funeral service on 23 March 2010 in Nairobi Pentecostal Church, Nairobi for dr. T. Adeyemo). (Unpublished.         [ Links ])

DE LA HAYE, S. 1986. Byang Kato: ambassador for Christ - biography of dr. Byang H. Kato. Achimota: Africa Christian Press.         [ Links ]

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1 Reworked text of a paper delivered at the Koers-75 International Conference, April 2011 at Potchefstroom.
2 This dissertation forms the basis of his book Salvation in African tradition (Adeyemo, 1979a & 1997a).