ABSTRACT
Paul Gifford situates the Mennonite and Brethren Africanist experience, as reflected in this book, within the broader spectrum of his scholarship on Christianity in Africa and African religion and philosophy. Judging many of the essays to reflect the prevailing academic and professional stances and insights of their time and discipline—lauding African culture, overcoming stereotypes, and rejecting Afro-pessimism—he singles out a few essays that seek to explain the dilemmas of poverty and violence in selected societies. He highlights those authors who have grappled with changing conditions in their dealings with Africa rather than celebrating a static African culture.
