«Vi vet noe om Zanahary som dere ikke vet»

Kristningen av afrikanske gudsbetegnelser som strategisk og etisk spørsmål

Abstract

The article discusses the widespread practice within African Bible translation of using local names for creator-god or high-god in relation to translating biblical names or terms for God. An introductory case from Madagascar is followed by a brief discussion of John S. Mbiti’s understanding of African religion as having structural parallels to Christianity. Then follows a discussion, first of strategic perspectives on the question of the Christianization of African names of God with examples from Bible translations into Zulu (South Africa) and Iraqw (Tanzania), and then of ethical perspectives towards the same, with examples from the Septuagint and from Setswana (Botswana) and Shona (Zimbabwe) translations.