Eucharist in The Light of Pokot and Turkana Communal Meals : Towards an Inculturated African Eucharistic Theology.

Abstract

This study embarked on understanding the Theology of the Eucharist in the Light of the Pokot and Turkana peace meals. It revolved around the problem statement which asks the question why the Pokot and Turkana communities do not take seriously the significance of the Eucharist and yet they consider a correspondent cultural practice to the Eucharist much seriously. Thus the study explored possible ways of making the Eucharist more meaningful to the Pokot and Turkana communities. Subsequently, the study put to account inculturation as a possible method for localizing the Eucharist among the Pokot and the Turkana so as to convey the essential meanings of the Eucharistic Theology in a more relevant way. The methodology applied Professor Charles Nyamiti’s concept of Nexus Mysterorium, which refers to the interconnectedness or interrelatedness of divine mysteries and the fusion of cultural elements of a local community into a Christian mystery for a better understanding. As pointed out in the background, the Pokot and Turkana people having formed a large percentage of the Christian community and having shared in the Eucharist have not embraced the significance of this sacrament, particularly that of a peaceful co-existence. Hence the study established the problem as the need for inculturating the Eucharist so that it can cause awareness to peaceful co-existence and bring about relevance to the Pokot and the Turkana people. Since inculturation is a possible means of achieving this aspiration, it is necessary in this study to examine the Pokot “Kisoyonot” and Turkana “Akirket” Peace meals in the light of the Eucharist so as to elaborate it in divine terms. Consequently, the ultimate goal was to establish how the Eucharistic Theology could perfect such meals and subsequently achieve the purpose of bringing healing, peace building, reconciliation and a strengthened Christian community among these warring communities. Therefore, study included analyzing common elements in the Pokot and Turkana peace meals alongside the Eucharist, and then proposed possible areas for inculturation by means of Nexus Mysterorium as well as makes possible recommendations on the way forward for a future African Eucharistic Theology in the ACK Diocese of Kitale.