A Poetics of Postcolonial Biblical Criticism

“In an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural tour de force, Senegalese-American New Testament scholar Aliou Niang introduces two new voices into current debates  about African Traditional Religion, ecology, postcolonialism, and the Bible: Léopold Sédar Senghor whose seminal ideas on Négritude and a ‘civilization of the universal’ have been neglected for too long, and the earth-centered wisdom of Niang’s own native Diola culture—glimpses of ancient indigenous survival knowledge strikingly relevant in times of global ecological crisis. A fascinating book!”


—Brigitte Kahl, Professor of New Testament, Union Theological Seminary New York





“In a brilliant deployment of scholarly insights from multiple fields and subfields in biblical studies—from history of religions to comparative religions to exegesis and reception history—Aliou Niang’s A Poetics of Postcolonial Biblical Criticism is as compelling in its theoretical and methodological framing and appropriations of Senghorian Negritude as it is in its engagement with the multipositionality and multilocality of the postcolonial hermeneut. Forceful, yet unapologetic, Niang’s A Poetics is a refreshing read of the Bible, of African (Diola) culture, and of biblical interpretation itself. It is a veritable gift of Africana hermeneutics to the field of biblical scholarship.”


—Kenneth Ngwa, Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible, Drew University Theological School





"Niang here draws competently on a vast cultural and disciplinary range of conversation partners. This work is grounded in concrete cultural realities, hermeneutically sophisticated, and enlightening for current philosophic, literary and ecological discussions."





Craig Keener, Professor of New Testament, Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky.





“Pope Francis, in the encyclical Laudato Si’, writes that “indigenous communities and their cultural traditions…are not merely one minority among other, but should be the principal dialogue partners” in restoration of degraded nature and culture. (Para. 146) This dialogue will include a re-reading of Scripture through indigenous sources of wisdom. When this is carried out by deeply informed biblical criticism the results are a gift to all. Aliou Cissé Niang’s work is that gift. A splendid work!  Larry Rasmussen, Reinhold Niebuhr Professor of Social Ethics emeritus, Union Theological Seminary New York.”





Larry Rasmussen, Union Theological Seminary