Introduction

This chapter introduces the volume. It summarises the key issues in the discourses on religion and human security in general, and in Africa in particular. The chapter describes the growing interest in religion and human security at the global level, then analyses how this has developed in Africa. It notes that a number of conferences on religion and human security have been held and that there is an increase in publications, although these tend to be scattered across different journals. It undertakes a review of factors that have a bearing on African scholars’ limited focus on religion and human security. The chapter proceeds to analyse key themes that are relevant to reflections on religion and human security in Africa. It probes the interface between religion and politics, the role of the media, women and globalisation. The chapter then summarises the major issues covered by various contributors and points to some possible areas for further research.