Poverty context in Proverbs 31:1-9: A Bena Tanzanian analysis for Transformational Leadership Training

Abstract

African biblical scholars have recognized the importance culture plays in biblical interpretation for Christianity’s sacred texts to be authentically African. Cultural resources can liberate biblical interpretation from expert ideological dominance by creating critical reading masses in order to empower the community for transformation from the reality of multifaceted injustices such as poverty. Also the approach creates room for an equal fair dialogue with mainstream interpretive methods in biblical studies. This paper elaborates a model to the preceding aspects through transformative contextual exegetical interpretation of Prov 31:1-9 using the holistic cultural context, of the Bena of Tanzania. The said setup akin to the ancient Israelite one is inherently life-giving and sustaining to potentially transform the well-being of humanity for sustainable development. The reading goes beyond a stance of pure self-interest by challenging the victims to become involved in the eradication of poverty in African communities, especially with respect to leadership.

Keywords

• African transformational interpretation
• leadership
• poverty
• Proverbs
• women
• public service ethics
• humanness training
• resource mobilisation