John Mbiti facts for kids

John Samuel Mbiti (1931–2019) was a famous Kenyan thinker and writer. He was an Anglican priest. Many people call him "the father of modern African theology." This means he helped shape how people understand African religious ideas today.

Early Life and Education

John Mbiti was born on November 30, 1931. His birthplace was Mulango, in Kitui County, eastern Kenya. His parents, Samuel Mutuvi Ngaangi and Valesi Mbandi Kiimba, were farmers. John was one of six children in a very Christian family.

His strong Christian background encouraged him to go to school. He attended Alliance High School in Nairobi. Later, he studied at University College of Makerere, graduating in 1953.

Mbiti then traveled to the United States for more studies. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1956. In 1957, he received a Bachelor of Theology degree. Both degrees were from Barrington College in Rhode Island. This was a Christian liberal arts school.

He continued his studies in England. In 1963, he earned his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in theology. This advanced degree was from the University of Cambridge.

A Life of Teaching and Writing

After finishing his studies, Mbiti became an Anglican priest. He taught religion and theology at Makerere University in Uganda. He worked there from 1964 to 1974.

Later, he became the director of the World Council of Churches' Ecumenical Institute in Switzerland. He also visited many universities around the world as a professor.

Mbiti wrote many books and articles. His writings covered philosophy, theology, and African oral traditions. These are stories and beliefs passed down by word of mouth.

African Religions and Philosophy

One of Mbiti's most important books was African Religions and Philosophy. It was published in 1969. This book was special because it challenged old ideas. Before Mbiti, many Christians thought traditional African religions were "demonic" or "anti-Christian."

Mbiti's book showed a different view. He treated traditional African religions with respect. He based his ideas on a lot of research. He traveled and talked to many people. He wanted to understand their beliefs.

Mbiti made it clear that he wrote from a Christian point of view. This part of his work sometimes received criticism.

Other Research and Work

Mbiti was also interested in theology in Africa and Asia. He worked on bringing different Christian groups together. This is called ecumenism. He also helped create a book of African proverbs. These are wise sayings collected from all over the continent.

From 2005 until he passed away, Mbiti was a professor at the University of Bern. He was also a retired church minister in Burgdorf, Switzerland.

Religious and Academic Contributions

After graduating from Cambridge, John Mbiti became an Anglican priest. He served as a parish priest in England for a short time. In 1964, he returned to Makerere University. There, he taught about traditional African religions.

From 1980 to 1996, Mbiti served as a parish minister in Burgdorf, Switzerland. At the same time, he taught at the University of Bern from 1983 onwards.

Challenging Old Ideas

While at Makerere, Mbiti wrote his first book. It was African Religions and Philosophy (1969). His main goal was to challenge common beliefs. Many people thought African traditional religions were against Christian values.

Mbiti argued that these religions deserved respect. He believed they were as important as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism. He based this on the idea that God created everything. So, God must have shown himself to all people.

Mbiti did not know much about African traditional religions at first. This was because their teachings were mostly oral. So, he did his own research. He gathered ideas from over 300 African groups. His students asked him to share his research. This led him to write his first book.

After Makerere, he taught at many universities worldwide. He kept writing books on philosophy, theology, and African oral traditions.

Leading Conferences

From 1974 to 1980, Mbiti directed the Bossey Ecumenical Institute. He organized important conferences there. These meetings focused on "intercultural theology." His aim was to bring together theologians from Africa, Asia, and other places. They would meet for discussions and understanding.

One conference in 1976 focused on African and Asian ideas in theology. Over 80 people attended. Another well-known conference was in 1977. It was called "Confessing Christ in Different Cultures." More than 100 people from 35 countries attended. They discussed how people could express their Christian faith in different ways.

Translating the New Testament

After retiring in Switzerland, Mbiti took on a big project. He translated the entire New Testament. He translated it from its original Greek and Hebrew languages. He translated it into his native language, Kikamba. This is a Bantu language spoken by the Kamba people in Kenya.

Mbiti received many awards for his work. In 2016, the Anglican Church of Southern Africa honored him. They gave him the Archbishop’s Award for Peace and Justice. This was for his life and writings.

Understanding African Traditional Religion

In his book, Mbiti explored the origins of African traditional religion. He studied their oral traditions. For example, he researched the Igbo religion. Their traditions were deeply rooted in their culture. Elders passed these traditions down by word of mouth.

Igbo traditions focused on big questions about existence. People in their traditional life were very religious. They believed their religious journey started before birth and continued after death. The Igbo religion connected people to their ancestors and to those not yet born.

Mbiti found that the Igbo religion had all the features of a world religion. It had beliefs, sacred stories, and rituals. It also had leaders like elders, kings, and priests. However, the Igbo religion was different from other religions. It did not have missionaries. People did not try to convert others. They believed in a supreme being who controlled the world.

Mbiti also learned about Igbo beliefs about death. They believed that when someone died, their spirit wandered. It would wander until the body received a proper burial. This was a "transitional period."

When Christianity came to Igbo land in 1857, some Igbo people were afraid. They worried their god would bring disaster if they became Christians. Others refused to convert. They thought Christian missionaries wanted to destroy their religion. Christians sometimes criticized Igbo music and dance. This may have caused conflict. It also led to the idea that African traditional religions were anti-Christian. Mbiti believed the elders were simply protecting their traditions.

One of Mbiti's most famous quotes from his book was: "Wherever the African is, there is religion." This means that religion is a central part of African life.

Criticisms and Different Views

John Mbiti did face some criticism for his work. A Ugandan writer named Okot p'Bitek was one critic. P'Bitek felt that Mbiti used Western ways of thinking in his arguments. He argued that Mbiti made African beliefs sound too much like Christian ideas of God. For example, Mbiti said African beliefs aligned with God being all-powerful and always present.

P'Bitek wrote in his book African Religions in Western Scholarship that ordinary Africans would not recognize Mbiti's descriptions of their religions. According to historian Derek Peterson, Mbiti never publicly replied to this criticism.

Another scholar, Tsenay Serequeberhan, also criticized Mbiti. He said Mbiti tried to show African beliefs to Christians or Europeans.

Major Works

• Akamba Stories (1966): This book contains about 80 stories from the Kamba people. They show Kamba life, society, and language.
• Poems of Nature and Faith (1969): A collection of poems by African poets.
• African Religions and Philosophy (1969): Mbiti's first major book. It explores African traditional religions and challenges old ideas about them. He later added information about women's roles in religion.
• Concepts of God in Africa (1970): This book shows that African people have deep religious wisdom. It studies how over 270 different African groups think about God.
• New Testament Eschatology in an African Background (1971): This book looks at how New Testament ideas about the future connect with African traditional beliefs.
• Love and Marriage in Africa (1973).
• Introduction to African Religion (1975): This book uses African proverbs to show religious and ethical practices. These practices are passed down through oral tradition.
• The Prayers of African Religion (1975): A detailed look at African Christian meditation, rituals, and prayers.
• Bible and Theology in African Christianity (1987).
• African Proverbs (1997).
• The Kikamba Bible - Utianiyo Mweu Wa Mwiyai Yesu Kilisto (2014): Mbiti's translation of the New Testament into the Kikamba language.