A Rwandan Bishop’s Confession
Mother Tongue Use and Primal Religion in the Writings of Bishop Aloys Bigirumwami
Foreword by Gillian Mary Bediako
Imprint: Resource Publications
In this book, I analyze why Bishop Aloys Bigirumwami prioritizes the use of the native language and the value of primal religions in spreading the gospel. According to Bigirumwami, the gospel should be taught in the native language, because it is the people's heart language. On the other hand, when the message is spoken in non-native languages, the gospel may spread but it does not reach the hearts of the people. As for the primal religions (tradition religions), for Bigirumwami they are part of what Jesus came to fulfill rather than abolish. In Rwanda, Western missionaries neglected the Rwandan primal religions by demonizing them, and the result was that the gospel was not planted in the good soil; the reason why the genocide against the Tutsi was executed in 1994 in a country where 91 percent of its population were Christians. A part of exploring the Christian mission history in Rwanda, this book points out the need to continue where Bigirumwami and others of his time left off in their effort of inculturation of the Christian faith in Rwanda and Africa in general.
Joel Kubwimana is head of department for the bachelors program at World Mission Theological Seminary and pastor in charge of discipleship and community life in Harvest Bible Fellowship Rwanda. This is his first book with Wipf and Stock.
“A groundbreaking study of the spiritual journey of Rwanda’s first indigenous Catholic bishop into gospel and culture engagement, with a prophetic message for our times: churches fail to engage with religion, culture, and language at the grassroots at their—and their society’s—peril.”
—Gillian Mary Bediako, Deputy Rector, Akrofi-Christaller Institute, Ghana
“This book is an essential resource of inspiration for any advocate or activist interested in promoting the importance of the mother tongue in rooting not only the gospel but also knowledge in indigenous societies for their inner transformation and sustainable development.”
—Gabriel Akimana, Lecturer of Biblical Hebrew and Old Testament, Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences, Rwanda
“The importance of any people’s mother tongue for their self-identity, authentic relationship with the transcendent, and holistic development is beyond dispute. In this work, Kubwimana uses the life story of Bishop Bigirumwami—from his alienation from, potential hostility toward, and exhilarating embrace of his primal cultural heritage—to underscore the need to use African mother tongues to solidly ground Christianity in Africa. Kubwimana thus offers Bigirumwami to readers as an inspiring and challenging exemplar.”
—Benhardt Y. Quarshie, Rector, Akrofi-Christaller Institute, Ghana
“In A Rwandan Bishop’s Confession, Joel Kubwimana demonstrates quite persuasively how essential the mother tongue is in the reconceptualization of society. By doing this monumental work, he has succeeded in placing the name of Aloys Bigirumwami on the list of notable scholars on the African continent who continue to advocate for the use of African languages in scholarly discourse. A good read!”
—Philip Tetteh Laryea, Associate Professor of African Theology, Akrofi-Christaller Institute, Ghana
“This is a great book, worthy to be read. Kubwimana clearly explores the life and works of Bishop Aloys Bigirumwami and points out the vital role of vernacular language and traditional beliefs in contextualizing Christian faith in contemporary Africa, particularly in Rwanda. I highly recommend this book to all theologians, clergy, lay leaders, and church planters pursuing Christian faith for the contemporary generation to be able to understand and accept the gospel, thus becoming Jesus’s disciples and taking on the call to spread the Christian faith to the next generation.”
—Niyonzima Samvura Jean Damascene, President and Legal Representative, Harvest Bible Fellowship, Rwanda
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