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| Archbishop Peter Kwasi Sarpong cultural innovator or cultural imperialist? |
Beginning around 1970, Ghanaian Archbishop Peter Kwasi Sarpong, drawing upon his extensive insider knowledge of Asante customs and Catholic religiosity and his training as a cultural anthropologist, embarked upon a flexible interpretation of Catholicism filtered through the lens of the Asante worldview. Libation rituals, for example, were conceptualized as cultural and not religious, modified by excising the "minor or lesser" deities, calling on the Supreme God and venerating (but not worshipping), the Ancestors and equating them with the Catholic Saints.
Other local cultural elements incorporated into Asante Catholicism include festivals (e.g., adae, a celebration held in honor kings who have become Ancestors); symbols of royal authority (e.g., asipim, ceremonial chair of the ɔhene or “king”); kingly honorifics (e.g., Otomfo, “mighty” or “powerful”); adinkra symbols (e.g., nkabom, “unity” and gye nyame, “except God”—denotes the superiority of God). [1]
Although some local Christians and traditionalists objected to the “mixing” of Catholicism and indigenous practices, Archbishop Sarpong’s efforts have been, by most accounts, an unqualified success. To date, there several million Catholics in Ghana. Sarpong is widely credited with fostering the growth of the Catholic faith in the Asante region and enhancing the profile of Catholicism on the national scene.
But one could also view Sarpong’s “indigenization” as a more subtle form of cultural imperialism. Christianity is rendered timelessly and fundamentally true. Whilst beliefs and practices of Asante traditionalists are folded into Christianity and reduced to non-essential variations on a Christological scheme.
But one could also view Sarpong’s “indigenization” as a more subtle form of cultural imperialism. Christianity is rendered timelessly and fundamentally true. Whilst beliefs and practices of Asante traditionalists are folded into Christianity and reduced to non-essential variations on a Christological scheme.
So what are your thoughts? Are Archbishop Sarpong's interventions an example of the "Africanization" of Catholicism or are they yet another variation of western cultural imperialism that undermines African Traditional Religion?
[1] Asante Catholicism: Religious and Cultural Reproduction among the Akan of Ghana (1996) By Pashington Obeng.
In the video below, Archbishop Sarpong explains that pouring libations to one's Ancestors is not anti-Christian. He compares African veneration of Ancestors with the prominence of Saints in Catholicism (if viewing from Facebook, click here.)
Archbishop Peter Sarpong, "Ancestors, saints and idolatry." Excerpt from "African Christianity Rising: Stories from Ghana" from james ault on Vimeo.
tags: Christianity, Ghana, African traditional religion, Akan, Ashanti, Asante
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