Abstract:
In this article, we are exploring a methodological approach to research on faith and religious
expressions in urban Africa. We are committed to trans-disciplinary work that pursues research
methods mutually liberating for researchers, co-researchers and community participants and
that results in long-term benefits and strengthened agency on the part of the host communities.
Our reflections in this article are based on a collaborative research project1 in two regions of
Pretoria, Tshwane2 – Pretoria Central and Mamelodi East – in which we explore how religious
innovation and competition in and amongst churches contribute to the healing or perpetuation
of urban fractures.
Description:
The project is also a sub-theme of the ‘Faith in the City’ research project, hosted by the Centre for Contextual Ministry in the Faculty of
Theology, University of Pretoria.
