DRUMS OF REDEMPTION:
A New Testament Theology for Africa
By Bitrus A. Sarma
Hippobooks. 296 pages. £7.99
ISBN 978 1 839 732 317
My ancestors having originated from somewhere in west Africa, and having lived in South Africa for almost a decade, I was interested to read Drums of Redemption by Bitrus Sarma!
Studies in theology are often dominated by North American or Western European theologians. Reading this was therefore something of a breath of fresh air, since it is not often that I find books written by Africans, or from a uniquely African theological perspective! The first three chapters of this book do this well as Sarma tackles issues like: contextualisation, the need to be a Christian African and not vice versa, the nature of New Testament Theology, the quest for the historical Jesus, and a Biblical theology for Africa, among others.
And since, as a Christian from the African continent, Sarma regards redemption as the main overarching theme of the New Testament (hence the title of the book), in the rest of his book (chapters 3–23), he traces this theme throughout the various books that make up the New Testament! Although much of this was familiar territory to me, some of his insights as an African were nonetheless helpful. For example the temptation to view Jesus as a ‘Proto-Ancestor’ by some Africans runs into the problem of equating Him with the departed spirits of African ancestors! A lack of belief in evil spirits, especially in the West, can encourage African Christians to look to African traditional religion as a viable alternative when faced with diabolical principalities and powers.
And whether you agree with all his conclusions or not, Sarma does not shy away from some of the more difficult issues like the unnatural nature of same-sex relationships, the controversy surrounding the meaning of the Greek word for ‘head’ in the New Testament, the prosperity preachers or, as he calls them, ‘gospel hucksters’ who so prominently peddle the word of God for profit on the African continent!
As someone who regularly preaches to an ethnically diverse congregation that includes many Africans, I can see myself dipping into this book time and time again for some of those insights to help me in my preaching. And frankly, I need all the help I can get.
