Christianity in the philosophy of Edward Wilmot Blyden and J. E Casely Hayford

Abstract EN

The dichotomy between African indigenous religion and European Christianity introduced in early European contact with Africa generated profound responses on the part of Africans.

For Africans, missionaries failed to relate Christianity to indigenous beliefs.

The European missionary attempted to “Westernize” rather than “Africanize” religious beliefs and practices.

The situation was one of chaos as the African did not understand nor accept God being circumscribed in Western terms.

Within this time of great upheaval for Africa, Edward Wilmot Blyden and J.

E.

Casely Hayford leveled severe criticism at the whole institution of European Christianity.

The present study draws on Blyden's and Hayford's view of Christianity to unveil the similarities in the thoughts of both men and revealed that Hayford's vision is deeply rooted in Blyden's vision where the two tried to shape a correct, uncontaminated African religious world.