A gentle giant with warm soul goes to rest

The Kenyan academic fraternity is in mourning following the demise of scholar, theologian and a teacher, Prof John Mbiti, who breathed his last yesterday in Switzerland where he was hospitalised.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Prof Makau Mutua joined other Kenyans in mourning the renowned theologian and philosopher, recalling his contribution to African religions. 

Mbiti (pictured) was born on November 30, 1931, and his thirst for education saw him study beyond Kenya.

He studied in Uganda before pursuing his doctorate in 1963 at University of Cambridge, UK.

Afterward, Mbiti commenced his teaching career at Makerere University where he taught religion and theology for 10 years from 1964. 

As a junior lecturer at Makerere, Mbiti challenged Christian inferences that traditional African religious ideas were “demonic and anti-Christian” through his first work, African Religions and Philosophy in 1969. 

His first book has been hailed as an enlightenment by many but it also earned him an equal share of criticism from those with contrary beliefs. 

Concepts of God

“His book was an eye-opener and groundbreaking work. Condolences to his family. May his soul Rest In Peace,” posted Raila on Twitter. 

While teaching at Makerere, Mbiti published other major works; Concepts of God in Africa (1970), New Testament eschatology in an African background (1971) which was a revised edition of his PhD thesis at Cambridge, Introduction to African Religion and The Prayers of African Religion in 1975. 

He became the first African to translate the Bible into Kamba language. 

Mbiti left Makerere University in 1974 after he was appointed Director of the Ecumenical Institute of the World Council of Churches in Bogis-Bossey, Switzerland. 

Thanks to him, the presence of Christians from Africa, Asia, and Latin America started to be felt in the council as their participation increased. 

In 1980, Mbiti was ordained a priest of Anglican Church and became a parish minister in the reformed church of Bergdorf. 

He settled in Switzerland with his wife and their four children while lecturing at University of Bern. 

The ordained priest became vocal on matters of education as he traversed in various universities worldwide to descant his theological views.