The challenge and reconstructive impact of African religion in South Africa today

Abstract

This essay assesses the resilience and the reconstructive impact of African religion in post-apartheid South Africa, especially with regard to the religiosocial reconstruction of the society. It also seeks to demonstrate that following the May, 2008, Afrophobic/xenophobic attacks, the influence of African religion is undergoing a litmus test. Its hypothetical setting has it that post-apartheid South Africa, like the rest of post-Cold War Africa, is in dire need of psychosocial reconstruction on all fronts. Consequently, the essay attempts to show that, despite the effects of so-called modernity, African religion deserves to be given a chance to engage in dialogue with other religious discourses, as its impact cannot be gainsaid. In particular, its impact on the multiracial society can have a double advantage to the entire nation. Indeed, the author argues, some of its concepts such as hospitality and Ubuntu not only can be exploited for the good of South Africa, but, more importantly, it can also be bequeathed to the rest of the world.