AFRICAN CONNECTION TO THE ECOSYSTEM: ITS RELEVANCE TO AFRICAN CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY

Abstract

African worldviews emphasize the interconnectedness of all living and nonliving entities, forming a holistic vision of the universe where humans, spirits, ancestors, animals, and the environment exist in relational harmony. This ecological consciousness is not merely cultural but deeply theological. Its integration into African Christian theology has become increasingly important as the continent faces growing ecological crises. This paper examines the African relational worldview, its ecological implications, and the ways in which African Christian theology incorporates and reinterprets these insights for contemporary challenges. Using the secondary sources of data collection with historical and thematic approach and analytic method for data analysis, the study argues that African ecological wisdom is indispensable for developing a robust African eco-theology capable of addressing environmental degradation, climate injustice, and spiritual–ecological disintegration.