In recent weeks, we have been hearing about the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter movement is an international human rights movement which encourages- demands even - all of us to stand up for black people who are subjected to racism every single day of their lives.
Imagine being pulled up by the Police just because you are black and walking down the street, just because you are black and are driving your car, just because you are black and out late at night, just because you are black and wearing a hoodie. Take out the reference to colour and the whole thing sounds ridiculous!
Sadly, when white Europeans first invaded the African continent, Western Christianity was used as a means to oppress the indigenous population and to empower White European society while the African tribal traditions and institutions were derided and pushed aside.
This was the starting point of racism which carried on through the horrific slave trade and colonialism.
In recent years African Theology has sought to integrate Christianity into traditional cultures – a far better prospect and one which would have been a far better starting point.
This painting is called The Flight to Egypt and is from Uganda. It reflects the treatment of many Ugandan Christians under the regime of Idi Amin. The painting reflects the story of the Holy Family travelling to a foreign country under threat of death.
Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus are allied with millions of refugees who flee for their lives, or simply for a better way of life. Refugees are still seem as “a problem” by governments and sections of societies the world over when Christ would have us welcome every one with love.
This next picture could be of a male or female – Jesus is Dread: the ‘Rasta’ Jesus
This image challenged the churches of the Caribbean to recognize that the imposed ‘white’ Jesus of slave-owners was not (and is not) relevant to their people and culture. The popular Caribbean culture of the ‘Rasta’ is used as a very relatable figure not only for the Caribbean communities but in recognition of the African roots of those communities. The Crown of Thorns is barely recognisable, unlike the next picture from Cameroon…
Vie de Jesus Mafa (Life of Jesus Mafa) was a 1970s project to help teach the gospel in Northern Cameroon. French Catholic missionary François Vidil worked with Mafa Christian communities to create an enormous catalogue of paintings depicting the life of Jesus as an African man.
The above image is taken from a larger scene of the Crucifixion. I would urge you to look online at all the pictures from this wonderful initiative – they are a beautiful and vibrant representation of the Gospel. Just search Vie de Jesus Mafa and the pictures will come up.
Next time we will have a look at some images of Christ from Asia…