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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:The Ethical Redemption of African Imaginaire: Ka Mana's Theology of Reconstruction
Author:Dedji, ValentinISNI
Year:2001
Periodical:Journal of Religion in Africa
Volume:31
Issue:3
Pages:254-274
Language:English
Geographic term:Congo (Democratic Republic of)
Subjects:world view
African theology
Miscellaneous (i.e. Demography, Refugees, Sports)
Religion and Witchcraft
About person:Kä ManaISNI
External link:https://www.jstor.org/stable/1581609
Abstract:This paper examines the work of the philosopher and theologian Kä Mana. Kä Mana studied in the major Catholic theological seminaries of his homeland, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). First, his use of the concept of 'imaginaire' is explained. In most of Kä Mana's writings, 'imaginaire' is used as a psycho-anthropological attribute by which he attempts to categorize and analyse a social group's world views, their patterns of thought or the 'inner' drive motivating their behaviour in specific circumstances. Next, Kä Mana's approach to the redemption of Africans' 'imaginaire' from its present 'brokenness' is explored, followed by his proposal for a 'theology of reconstruction'. In Kä Mana's project the ultimate objective of the theology of reconstruction in Africa consists of training 'anti-crisis human beings' who are equipped with new models of rational, ethical and spiritual convictions. This implies first the re-evangelization of the institutions and structures that determine the existence of African societies today, and second, the reorientation of the global 'imaginaire' of African people according to the fundamental vision of humankind that the word of God proposes through the revelation of a 'new reality' embodied by Jesus Christ. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum.
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