The Biggest Gap in Africa
Educated at Achimota School where one is taught “respect for all that is true and of lasting value in the old African culture, beliefs and ways of life,” even today I still mine for treasures that made ancient empires on the continent—from Asante to Zulu—greatly flourish. Thus I join the call for an African renaissance.
At the same time, considering how the modern world was greatly shaped by the 16th century Reformation such that places that ancient African and Asian empires considered ‘cultural backwaters’ suddenly rose, surpassed and even dominated dynasties, I seek an African reformation.
One of my favourite offshoots of the Reformation is how the new paradigm and value shifts precipitated (or at least catalysed) scientific inquiry and the Protestant work ethic. Some are of the opinion that the religious reformation and scientific revolution of that era were merely coincidental and not one of causation. I beg to differ—so do several academics.
The current meteoritic rise in African Christian faith, to the extent that since 2018 Africa has been the most numerically Christian continent in the world (Latin America is second, Europe is third), is impressive. However, this phenomenon that is only going to crescendo to the extent that by 2050 Africa will have more Christians than those next two continents combined, is mainly of the Pentecostal-Charismatic strain that has sign-seeking, miracle-performing and material-grabbing at its core, at least in practice.
The materialistic and consumption-based philosophy, also known as the Prosperity Gospel, as well as the wanton surrender of God-given human agency in exchange for divine miracles, signs and wonders are diametrically opposed to the Protestant paradigm. The Reformation-born Protestant work ethic attaches religious importance to labouring at one’s job and places a high value on productivity and frugality, viewing hard work and efficiency as an expression of one’s faith rather than as an excuse for the same.
When I see the throngs who celebrate faith on Sundays but don’t show it through their work in between Sundays, I lament about the huge disconnect. Don’t they know that their very Good Book is explicit that “faith without works is dead”? The biggest gap in Africa might very well be the one between Sunday and Monday.
May we receive much grace and sound training to close that looming lacuna in this new year. Otherwise not even the desperately-desired ‘24-hour economy’ which some, like the newly inaugurated government in Ghana (January 7, 2024), are touting can rescue us from our socioeconomic doldrums! We need an African renaissance and an African reformation for an African renewal this second quarter of the not-so-new-anymore millennium. Yes, 2025 begins a new quarter of the 2000-2099 millennium A.D. It’s about time. Mind the gap, Africa, mind the gap.
