Analyzing African Biblical Hermeneutics with an Excursus on Covenant in Yoruba Context

People in the early times have handled the Bible intently; their keen interaction with the Scripture has spurred the quest to answer certain questions that seem entangling in their pursuit for understanding; this is the beginning of biblical interpretation! Hermeneutics began from the time men sought what biblical texts mean. Although the scripture is the inspired word of God; the truth remains that God used men to pen it down; moving through the trend of man and his environ. History has it that the African world sometimes referred to as „Sudan‟ was illuminated by the Good News through the Western world. This inherent suggests a considerable dependence of the Africans on Western knowledge, understanding, and methods of interpreting biblical texts. The world of Biblical scholarship has advanced a lot in recent times; in view of researches discoveries and advancements. Thus, the research presents a lucid discourse on biblical studies and the vehement need for African Biblical studies. The resurging study on biblical hermeneutics has engineered the development of African Hermeneutics. This research employs an analytical methodology, in relation to the excursus of covenant which is the focus of this study. This research though advocates African hermeneutics; explores its example in the Yoruba context. Covenant as a biblical theme is explicitly analyzed in the Yoruba context with sole aim of helping an average African Christian adequately comprehend the concept. This excursus reveals that covenant is not far-fetched from the Yoruba context. Therefore, the prior understanding of a Yoruba person will definitely aid the biblical perception of the concept. In view of this, other African cultural contexts are credible in this regard; however, they vary from one cultural context to another. African Biblical Hermeneutics is not and should not be seen as a means of inserting African Religion into the Bible; rather it is an interpretative methodology makes an average African man closer to the Bible, rather than being an alien.

Keywords: Africa, Biblical Studies, Culture, Hermeneutics, Interpretation.