INTERLOCK OF COMMUNICATION AND THEOLOGY IN MANAGING RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Abstract

In Africa, especially in Nigeria, Somalia, Mali, Niger, Cameroon, the resurgence of Islamic terrorist groups like Shiites, Shaba’ab, Seleka, Boko Haram and the Fulani herdsmen recently described as the third most dangerous terrorist group in the world appear to exacerbate already existing religious crisis in the continent leading to sporadic violence, loss of lives and properties, civil unrest and abject poverty. These overt religious conflicts perpetuated for political, economic, social and psychological needs of some selected few have turned the African Continent into a giant tinderbox of religious and ethnic conflict zones. Consequently, authentic African religious values have been extinct by the odour of religious violence built on principles that are not very connected with authentic religious belief systems entrenched in the two predominant religions (Christianity and Islam) in the continent. The paper therefore argues that in the Sub-Saharan Africa, the two universalistic exclusive religions — Christianity and Islam from the “family root therapy” if fine — tuned by theologians through the use of effective means of communication can promote justice and peace in the Sub-Saharan Africa. The article draws paradigm from Jesus Christ to create enabling atmosphere where fundamental human rights are esteemed and freedom of religion practised in a pluralistic society without violence. It equally proposes new experimental approaches that seek to co-relate the significance of Jesus in his time with his continuing significance in the African context today.