Rethinking homo Africanus in the context of sociopolitical change: Some pastoral anthropological perspectives from the South African context

Abstract

The article grapples with an appropriate African pastoral anthropology against the background of the socio-political changes that  occurred in South of Africa since the dawn of the new democracy during the mid-nineties. It argues that together with the ever-growing  process of globalisation, the way that Africans, think, live and believe did not remain untouched. Consequently, pastoral caregivers must  question the traditional or romantic view of African believers that still forms the anthropological premise in many pastoral theories. In  the light of this, it identifies some of the major socio-political changes that took place in the South African context, which exerted influence on the identity of Africans. It suggests that Africans find themselves amid a realisation of disappointment, loss, anger and  feelings of despair. Current day Homo africanus hence calls for a pastoral care of hope to better meet the spiritual needs of African  believers, against the background of socio-political change.