Beyond Marxist Framework: Understanding and Recovering the Method, the Theology of Daily Life in Jean-Marc Ela’s African (Black) Theology

Considering the surging attention on African Christianity, what distinct contribution would Africa make to global Christianity? Would such contribution be in the increasing number of African Christians or some distinctive
ideas and theological methods original to Africa and relevant beyond Africa? This article is an attempt to answer these questions. It does so through the lens of theology and methodology of Jean-Marc Ela. As such, it draws attention to the originality of Ela’s African theology, especially his methodology of shade tree theology.
It also evaluates some of his radical positions, exculpates his thoughts from charges of Marxist extremism,
revises and re-presents his ideas and method as a model of African theology that is attentive to the voices, the thoughts, the wisdom, and the concerns of those at the margins.

Keywords: African Theology, Black Theology, Church, Shade Tree, Jean -Marc Ela, Marxism, Ideological Atheism, Dialectical Materialism, Poverty, Empty Granary.