Afroteologia: construindo uma teologia das tradições de matriz africana

Abstract

The present thesis aims to attribute meanings and purposes to the rituals of the Traditions of African Origin based on a theological reflection founded on an Afrocentric epistemology and the eshuneutic method; to establish the relationships between Afrotheology and African philosophy present in the diversity of religious forms from their origins in the African continent to the Afrodiasporic traditions; to assist researchers on the subject as well as professionals in the field of education, especially in the field of Theology, Sciences of Religion and Religious Education; as well as nurture men and women in the fight against afrotheophobia; investigate the theological and philosophical understandings of African and Afrodiasporic traditions - mainly Batuque and Candomblé - looking for elements in common between them and their Nigerian origins; to identify the process of searching for “lost Africa” based on theological and philosophical concepts established epistemologically by the paradigm of Afrocentricity; establish a systematization of afrotheological knowledge. This thesis occupies six chapters. At the end we will write an essay text that will occupy six chapters. In the first, we will deal with the afrotheological role of traditional African communities. In the second, we will address African Philosophy and its permanence in these communities. In the third, we will deal with part of the sacred texts that compose and guide the afrotheology and which we call Ọgbọ́n Mẹ́fà, or the “Six Wisdoms”. The fourth chapter will be the second part of the ogbon mefa, dealing specifically with the afrotheology of rituals (Orò). Afrotheontology, that is, theology about God proper, according to this view of the world, will occupy the fifth chapter and Orishalogy, the afrotheological study about the orishas, will be in the sixth chapter.