Navigating trajectories in African biblical studies: D.T. Adamo and the future of African cultural hermeneutics

Abstract

Background: Even though the business of biblical interpretation in African perspectives is not as old as Western styled hermeneutics, African biblical hermeneutics is by no means inferior in orientation and context to Western methods of interpretation. African Cultural Hermeneutics (herein referred to as ACH) has enjoyed productive contributions of many erudite scholars from within and outside the shores of Africa. Objective: This paper examines the development of African Cultural Hermeneutics (ACH) among biblical scholars in Africa and particularly outlines the contributions of Professor D.T. Adamo to the course of ACH and biblical interpretation in Africa. Methodology: The paper employed the historical and evaluative methods of religious research. Results: The paper found that Adamo’s works are indispensable and monumental in navigating the trajectory in finding African presence in the Bible, and that the future of ACH in African biblical scholarship hinge largely on them. Unique contribution: This paper has demonstrated the importance of interpreting the Christian bible from an African cultural perspective using the works of Adamo as a basis. Conclusion: The paper concludes by tasking younger biblical scholars in Africa to emulate Adamo by focusing more on ACH. Key recommendation: The paper recommends the creation of a research center that would house the collections of Adamo’s works to aid future researches.