(Tangaza University College, 2005-10) Santos Lobo, Isabel Dos
This study is meant to address some of the anomalies observed in the initial
formation of African candidates to Christian Religious Life. I shall attempt this by
comparing Agikuyu initiation process with the Christian religious initial formation.
The study is based on the assumption that there are many good values within the
African initiation rites that could be applied in the formation of African young
candidates to Christian Religious Life.
Inculturation of Christian values within the African context implies searching
for African ways of forming Africans. The current way of forming Africans has
been successful as far as the adherence to religious life by Africans is concerned, but
it is doubtful if it is effective and accommodative of the African culture. Do Africans
feel at home right from their early stage of formation or do they perceive their
formation as a foreign project? Do African formators feel free to bring in their
cultural values to formation or they feel forced to follow the rigid European model
of formation? These and other questions will constitute the core of this paper in
order to seek for effective ways of forming candidates to Christian Religious Life.