Memória, dor e esperança

: ensaio de teologia política negro-africana a partir de J. B. Metz

Abstract

To speak of the history of Black African peoples is also to speak of a history of suffering. Although it is not a ‘unique case’, the history of sub-Saharan Africa takes on particular contours, since we are dealing with around 1400 years of domination and servitude (i.e. from the 6th century - 533-534 AD, when the Vandals invaded - to the 20th century, with the multiple declarations of independence). In fact, these and other problems have jeopardised both the ontological-anthropological identity and the historical-cultural and spiritual heritage of the Black African Subject. Today, however, this historical awareness has triggered in Black Africans a pressing need to analyse, question, rethink and rebirth the (true) Africa, but with and from Africa itself and Africans themselves. In this sense, this work is intended to be a theological expression of this postulation. What is the role of the Christian faith in the face of the reality and consequences of Black African suffering? What is the possible contribution of Christian anthropology and theology to an ‘African solution’ to its historical and/or eschatological future? It is against this backdrop and in order to deepen these questions that we have drawn up this theological essay/project. Equipping ourselves with the best anthropological-theological tools, especially J. B. Metz’s proposal for a “New Political Theology”, that we believe can be useful to the Black African Subject for this process of Black African renaissance, we will try to show the possible outlines of such a Black African renaissance, understood here as new ways of (effectively) solving the multiple problems that afflict the Black African Subject, whether in the political-economic domain, in the socio-cultural domain or in the religious-spiritual domain.

Date of Award	24 Feb 2026
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Luís Leal (Supervisor)