Book Review: Samuel Waje Kunhiyop, African Christian Ethics, Hippo Books, 2008.

Review:

Kunhiyop has written a resource compendium on ethical issues in contemporary Africa.  His purpose is “to offer an evangelical and biblical framework that African Christians can use to help them when dealing with ethical problems” (p.xv).  The book is basically an invaluable African textbook on African ethics.

Kunhiyop has breadth as well as depth as he deals with a multitude of issues.  In each area he presents the traditional African ethical perspective, then the Western ethical perspective and finally the biblical perspective, making clear distinctives among these three approaches.  Within this framework he covers the gamut from political issues (church and state, war and violence, strikes) to financial issues (poverty, corruption, fundraising), to marriage and family issues (including procreation and infertility, contraception, polygamy, domestic violence, rape, incest, prostitute and sex trafficking, female circumcision, homosexuality), to medical issues (HIV/AIDS, abortion, alcohol and drug abuse, euthanasia and infanticide) to religious issues (specifically witchcraft).  Although his range of topics is extensive, his bottom line is consistent: “Scripture properly read and interpreted is normative – binding on all peoples at all times and in every place” (p. xii).

This is an invaluable resource for all African Christians and all those relating to Africans in diaspora throughout the world.  Western Christians can profit greatly from reflecting on his principles for African Christian community, as summarized in the “soundbite.” which can be found under the newly added 'soundbite of the week tab'.

- M.L. Codman-Wilson, Ph.D. 3/14/12