By Adebayo Ado

A Professor of New Testament Studies at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Olu Alana, has called for a re-evaluation of Christianity’s role in Africa, urging the continent to free itself from the colonial interpretations of the faith.

He asserted that achieving true liberation from the remnants of colonisation and neo-colonialism in education, politics, economics, and religion requires a shift in the way Christianity is practised.

Prof. Alana made this assertion while delivering the university’s 36th Inaugural Lecture titled “Decolonising the New Testament’s Portraits and Narratives in Africa.”

The scholar argued that Africa must critically assess the way Christianity was introduced by colonial missionaries to break free from Western ideological control.

“Christianity is a powerful agent of civilisation, a promoter of love, peace, and development. However, to maximise its benefits, we must rethink how it is practised on our continent. Only then can we achieve true freedom from Western domination and drive our own progress,” he stated.

He emphasised that decolonisation does not mean rejecting Christianity but rather embracing its practice within an African cultural framework.

According to him, discarding African traditions in favour of Western religious models is both unnecessary and detrimental.

“This is not a call for an uncritical acceptance of African traditions. Rather, it is about incorporating the virtuous aspects of our culture into our Christian faith. Scripture itself provides examples of cultural integration. Dismissing African traditions as incompatible with faith is both servile and absurd,” he explained.

Prof. Alana also questioned the way Jesus was presented by colonial missionaries, describing it as distortion meant to keep Africans submissive.

“The Jesus they introduced to us is incapable of liberating us from Western imperialists and their modern neo-colonialists. How long will we continue to hold onto the Bible after prayers while Western powers continue to control our land and future?” he asked.

According to him, the real Jesus was not merely a figure of peace and gentleness but also an activist who challenged oppression and fought for the downtrodden.

“The Jesus hidden from Africans is the true biblical Jesus—a revolutionary who stood with the voiceless and opposed the oppressive status quo. That is the Jesus who can truly free Africa from colonial and neo-colonial influences,” he stated.

The professor criticised churches that focus on extravagant projects while neglecting the welfare of their members.

“Building massive 500,000-seat auditoriums and expensive universities that ordinary people cannot afford does not align with Christ’s teachings. These are vanity projects. Instead, churches should prioritise social responsibility—feeding the hungry, just as Jesus did when he fed the 5,000,” he advised.

Addressing the issue of polygamous marriage, Prof. Alana argued that the colonial rejection of polygamy was more about promoting Western culture than biblical doctrine.

“The Bible does not explicitly condemn polygamy. The colonial missionaries merely highlighted its challenges, such as envy and rivalry, while presenting monogamy as a Christian requirement, which it is not. This was a case of cultural imposition rather than biblical truth,” he noted.

On tithing, he pointed out that colonial missionaries did not establish a structured system for tithe collection because they never envisioned Africans becoming wealthy

In his remarks, Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, described Prof. Alana as a distinguished scholar with global influence.

“He is a bold intellectual whose works are widely recognised. His contributions to biblical studies have earned him prestigious grants and invitations to international conferences,” the VC  stated.

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