Simon Maimela and the prophetic vision of liberation for Black Theology

Abstract

This article celebrates Simon Maimela’s contribution to Black Liberation Theology in South Africa. It explores and highlights Maimela’s prophetic vision of liberation, which is crucial to the survival of Black Theology. It focuses on Maimela’s prophetic stance in recognising the Christian God as being actively involved in the dynamic historical existential liberation of the oppressed; reviving the prophetic mission of the Church; advocating hermeneutics that show the historical truth of biblical faith as relative and dynamic; and envisioning Black Theology of the signs of the times that is creative, accountable and responsible and that consequently takes the liberation task beyond liberation from apartheid in South Africa and colonial oppression in Africa.