The Routledge Companion to Christianity in Africa offers a multi-disciplinary analysis of the Christian tradition across the African continent and throughout a long historical span. The volume offers historical and thematic essays tracing the introduction of Christianity in Africa, as well as its growth, developments, and effects, including the lived experience of African Christians. Individual chapters address the themes of Christianity and gender, the development of African-initiated churches, the growth of Pentecostalism, and the influence of Christianity on issues of sexuality, music, and public health. This comprehensive volume will serve as a valuable overview and reference work for students and researchers worldwide.

Notes on Contributors. Acknowledgments. Introduction: Elias K. Bongmba. Part I: Selected Historical Perspectives. 1. Christianity in North Africa: Elias K. Bongmba. 2. Christianity in Egypt-The Coptic Church: Youhanna Nessim Youssef. 3. Early Christian Discourses and Literature in North African Christianities in the Context of Hellenistic Judaism and Greco-Roman Culture: Gerhard van den Heever. 4. Historical Perspectives on West African Christianity: Robert Baum. 5. Early Central African Christianity: Prophets, Priests and Kings: Sara Fretheim. 6. Christianity in East Africa: Loreen Maseno. 7. The Cross in Ethiopian Christianity: Ecclesial Symbolism and Religious Experience: Jon Abbink. 8. The Bible in an African Christianity: South African Black Theology: Gerald West. 9. Christianity and Translation in Colonial Context : Inventing Globalization: Musa W. Dube. 10. Women in African Christianities: Esther Mombo. Part II: Modern Developments and Interreligious Encounters. 11. Mission Theory and Practice in Africa: Frans Wijsen. 12. Evangelicals: Rereading Ethiopian Pentecostals and Evangelism: Tibebe Eshte. 13. African Christianity in the Post Vatican II Era: Clement Majawa. 14. Ecumenism in African Christianity: Jesse N.K. Mugambi. 15. Christianity and African Religion: Historical Dynamics of the Encounter: Laurenti Magesa. 16. Muslim-Christian Relations in Africa: An Overview of Centuries of Personal Encounters: Festo Mkenda. Part III: African Initiatives in Christianity. 17. African Initiated Christianity in Southern Africa: Ezra Chitando. 18. Pentecostalism in Eastern Africa: Martina Prosén. 19. Pentecostalism in Southern Africa: Allan H. Anderson. 20. African Christianity and Transnational Religious Networks: From Africa to America and back to Africa: Moses Biney. Part IV: Christianity, Politics, and Development. 21. Christianity and Politics in West Africa: J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu. 22. Christendom in Crisis: The Catholic Church &Postcolonial Politics in Central Africa: J.J. Carney. 23. Christianity and Politics in Southern Africa 1960-2013: James N. Amanze. 24. Christianity and Apartheid in South Africa: Robert Vosloo. 25. The African Church and Development: Richard S. Maposa. 26. Approaches to Religion and the Environment in Africa: Ernst M. Conradie. Part V: Ecclesial Life and Lived Experience. 27. Church Music in Africa: Space for Enculturation and Transformation: Emily Achieng Akuno. 28. Christianity and Sexuality in Africa: Matthews A. Ojo and Adewale J. Adelakun. 29. Christianity and Same-Sex Relationships in Africa: Adriann van Klinken. 30. From Medical Missions to Church Health Services: Elias K. Bongmba. 31. Christianity and Healing in Africa: The Anglican Church's Holy Cross Community in Zimbabwe: Tabona Shoko. 32. Religion, Human Rights and the Future of Humanity: Some Reflections: N. Barney Pityana. Conclusion: Studying African Christianity: Future Trajectories: Elias K. Bongmba. Select Bibliography. Index.