New
New
Year 9

Mercy Amba Oduyoye and African Women's theology

I can explain how Mercy Oduyoye’s worldview influenced her development of African Women’s theology.

New
New
Year 9

Mercy Amba Oduyoye and African Women's theology

I can explain how Mercy Oduyoye’s worldview influenced her development of African Women’s theology.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Oduyoye showed that African identity and Christianity can be blended rather than being in conflict.
  2. She created a space for African women to shape theology and challenge male-dominated religious traditions.
  3. She encouraged and reimagined areas of theology, such as Christology, from an African woman's perspective.
  4. Her influence continues to inspire African women to lead, rethink and engage in theology.

Keywords

  • African Women’s theology - focuses on empowering women by integrating their experiences into theological discussions

  • Akan - an indigenous belief system and culture primarily in Ghana and Ivory Coast

  • Colonialism - taking control of a country and exploiting the resources and people

  • Patriarchy - a system of society where men hold most power and make key decisions

Common misconception

African women’s experiences and theology can be adequately represented by either white women or African men.

African women have unique experiences and should share their own stories. Others can support them, but real representation comes from their own voices, not others speaking for them.


To help you plan your year 9 religious education lesson on: Mercy Amba Oduyoye and African Women's theology, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

For further reading, look at Dr Oluwatomisin Oredein.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
Which apostle is traditionally credited with founding the Coptic Church in Egypt?
St James
St John
Correct answer: St Mark
St Mathew
Q2.
Who were the Desert Fathers and Mothers?
People who lived in cities and preached to crowds
Correct answer: People who chose to live as hermits and ascetics in the desert
People who studied theology in monasteries
Q3.
Figures such as the Desert Fathers and Mothers help us appreciate the of Christian worldviews and spiritual practices.
Correct Answer: diversity, Diversity
Q4.
St Antony’s ascetic life was influential to which important figure in Western Christianity?
Correct answer: St Augustine
Martin Luther
St Benedict
St Teresa of Avila
Q5.
The Coptic Church shows that Christianity had spread to Africa many centuries before the impact of .
Correct Answer: colonialism, Colonialism, colonisation

Assessment exit quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
What did Oduyoye demonstrate about African identity and Christianity?
They are in constant conflict and cannot coexist
African identity should be abandoned for Christianity
Correct answer: African identity and Christianity can be blended rather than being in conflict
Q2.
How did Oduyoye challenge male-dominated religious traditions?
By rejecting all traditional religious practices
Correct answer: By creating space for African women to participate and shape theology
By excluding women
Q3.
Oduyoye encouraged the reimagining of theology, including , by incorporating an African woman’s perspective into the discussion.
Correct Answer: Christology, christology
Q4.
Oduyoye’s influence continues to African women to lead, rethink and engage with theology from their own perspectives.
Correct Answer: inspire, Inspire
Q5.
Oduyoye argued that real representation of African women in theology comes from:
Others speaking for them.
Male theologians interpreting women’s experiences.
Correct answer: African women sharing their own stories and voices.

Additional material

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