Oral Theology in the African Church: An examination of the divine attributes in the song Yehowa by Suzzy and Matt

Abstract

Orality is one of the key means of expressing ideas in most African traditional societies. For this reason, the development and promotion of oral theology are crucial for the promotion of the Christian faith in Africa. The use of oral theology is one of the key factors that make Christianity thrive in an oral community because it facilitates the contextualization of the Christian message and makes it relevant and meaningful to the receptor community. As a contribution to the development and promotion of this emerging field of theology, this study explores key divine attributes embedded in the song Yehowa which was composed by a Ghanaian duo, Suzzy and Matt. The article used a literature-based research approach to gather data on the subject. The methodology for the study comprises of a critical socio-cultural study of the lyrics based on the African worldview. In the process, a biblical-theological analysis was conducted to critique the insights gained from the socio-cultural analysis. In the end, the study offers theological-missiological reflections for Africa based on the exposition of the lyrics of the song. The article argues that though symbolic and oral theologies are legitimate theologies, they must always be scrutinized in the light of Scripture to avoid syncretism. The article contributes to African Christian theology by providing a framework within which oral theology may be espoused and promoted in Africa.