Decolonising theological education in urban spaces: A reflection on the “Abantu Book Festival”

Abstract

The article argues that “Abantu Book Festival” (Abantu) held in Soweto annually signifies a decolonising space for theological education in the urban areas surrounding Soweto. From the perspective of Black theology of liberation (BTL) paradigms, the clear focus on blackness as a methodological framework for the Abantu programme signifies Abantu as a festival reflecting critically on the black experience post-1994. Moreover, Soweto, with its resistance history, relates Abantu to black culture, and urban realities post-1994. In its programme, African Spirituality becomes the source of knowledge for Abantu’s decolonial project, thus, enabling the spirit of Ubuntu as a lived, and a living philosophy at Abantu. This article, therefore argues that Abantu exhibits BTL with a praxis-based spirituality for theological education in urban areas. Abantu’s use of blackness, and Soweto as interlocutors automatically connects Abantu to the Black Consciousness Movements (BCM), Pan Africanist narratives of return, thus enables Black Theology Liberation.