Biblical Exegesis and Hermeneutics of Biblical Texts: African Approaches

This article argues the importance of exegesis and hermeneutics in the African context. There is a need for bible translation to be exercised within the African context as opposed to the Western context. The end-readers should become partners in the translation; as these partners. The example of name giving is cited as arguable case that can assist Bible translators to indigenize biblical names by translating them into indigenous meanings. These partners can use their worldviews, proverbs, and idiomatic expressions to make the text meaningful. Afro hermeneutics and exegesis integrates life and biblical narratives and life experiences, are wrapped with indigenous knowledge, and exercises personal involvement of the reader of the text and the context. The paper proposes three influencers in African hermeneutics and exegesis. These are liberation hermeneutics which acknowledges the importance of both the spiritual and the material with the emphasis on economic and the political dimensions of African life. Then inculturation hermeneutics, which basically means that the interpretive process should be informed by the worldview and experience within the cultural context. And finally, contextualisation whereby translation should aim at preparing and empowering translators to facilitate translation processes by involving communities instead of top-down decision making and implementation. This is overall the acknowledgement of the role of indigenous knowledge systems in text translation and interpretation.