Christian Engagement with Ewe Culture in Ghana: A Dialogue

Abstract

The issue of gospel and culture has been in contention since the inception of Christianity and its expansion into other environs outside the Jewish nation Israel. As Christianity left its comfort zone in Jerusalem, it needed to engage with different cultures and give relevance of the good news to people that were alien to the Jewish culture which was a national religious culture. Using the comparative and dialogical approaches, this study thus, discussed some religious and cultural practices of the people of Agave in Ghana and how these help in demonstrating the true revelation of God in the person of Jesus. The study found that all the religious and cultural practices have prepared the hearts of Agaveawo for the gospel of Jesus. All the practices were towards the aspirations of forgiveness of sin, well-being, productivity, peace, victory over death and dark powers and agricultural productivity. The individual responses strengthen the argument that what the traditionalists sought in Dzawuwu, amawuwu and Trᴐkosi systems, one can find in Christ. The study contributes to the agenda of developing and articulating Christology in African theology and Christianity.

Keywords

• the gospel
• christian engagement
• african theology
• culture