Justpeace : a practical theology for flourishing African cities using Enugu as a case study

Abstract

Enugu, the state capital of Enugu state in Southeastern Nigeria, like most medium and large cities in Africa, is growing exponentially. What characterises Africa’s urbanisation is the ubiquitous presence of slums and informal settlements in her cities. These forms of informalities raise deep theological questions. How can we discern God’s incarnational footprints in such spaces? What efforts (if any) are made by faith-based actors in these spaces to advance a faith-infused urban praxis? This study is an attempt to respond to some of these theological questions by proposing Justpeace as a socio-spiritual capital, and a possible theological framework for engaging Africa’s urbanisation. This study is arguably a contribution to the emerging discipline of African urban theology and argues for the application of the biblical and faith-inspired principles of Justice and Peace, amalgamated as Justpeace in African urbanisation discourse. This study suggests that Justpeace could serve both as a measuring tool for exploring incarnational footprints in African urban centres, or, as an approximation of the biblical concept of shalom. Yet, Justpeace is not a one-size-fits-all theological framework for engaging African cities, whose geographies have traversed post-colonial, post-independent and post-apartheid spatial realities. As a theological framework, this study builds on Julian Muller’s Postfoundational Practical Theological Approach to suggest the amplification of the voices and activities of faith-based urban social movements such as the Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace, Development Education Centre, Enugu Clean Team Project, which this study explored. Arguably, the activities of such faith-based urban social movements have the potential to become the lens for African urban theological engagement in Enugu and other African cities.