A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Attorney General of Imo state, Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume says faith can elevate the identity of christians through the reflection of culture, language, music, and traditions.
Machukwu-Ume state this in Enugu during the birthday ceremony and book launch of Rev. Father Emeka Ngwoke.
Giving a review of the book, “Newman: Universal Revelation and the Challenges of Inculturation in an African Church,” Machukwu Ume, described the work as a ladder to cultural reconciliation and a catalyst for an African theological renaissance.
“The Gospel message, which is in itself universal and timeless, was sometimes accompanied by European worldviews that unconsciously presented faith and their culture as inseparable twins. Thus, for many early African Christians, to embrace Christianity was almost synonymous with abandoning their identity, their names, their symbols, and even their rhythms of worship,“ he explained.
“But as this book insightfully explores, the revelation of God is not confined to a single culture or civilization. Revelation is universal — it
speaks to the heart of every people, in every age, and within every cultural setting,“ he said.
The legal luminary noted that the book connects theology with daily life and encourages readers to reflect on how God communicates through culture, conscience, and the natural world.
In a goodwill message, governor Peter Mbah of Enugu state, commended the priest for his intellectual prowess deployed in the work.
