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Women and Christianity in Africa

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The Palgrave Handbook of African Women's Studies

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Abstract

The place of women in African Christianity and the tension between prejudices and the need for participation by all in the Christian enterprise on the continent need reexamination and redress. Employing a historical approach, this chapter discusses the role of women in African Christianity and gives reasons why they have not been accorded the recognition they deserve. Whereas women were restricted in playing key roles in the church because of certain socio-historical and doctrinal developments over time, they were nevertheless a force to be reckoned with. Furthermore, the rise of the African Independent Church movement, and subsequently the Pentecostal movement provided more opportunities for more assertive involvement of women. In particular, women have contributed to Christianity significantly in contemporary times as intellectuals and scholars of theology and biblical studies. Conclusively, this study looks forward to greater involvement of women in the mission and ministry of the Christian church in Africa as a means of addressing the current deficits in gender inequality in African churches, and indeed in larger African society.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Nigeria

    Sunday Didam Audu

  2. Department of History & International Studies, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Nigeria

    Emmanuel Orihentare Eregare

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  1. Sunday Didam Audu
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  2. Emmanuel Orihentare Eregare
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Correspondence to Sunday Didam Audu .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, Nigeria

    Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso

  2. Department of History, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    Toyin Falola

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Babcock University, IIishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria

    Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso

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Audu, S.D., Eregare, E.O. (2021). Women and Christianity in Africa. In: Yacob-Haliso, O., Falola, T. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of African Women's Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77030-7_171-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77030-7_171-1

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