Andrew Kaufa, smm
AMECEA chairman Rt. Rev. Charles Kasonde has sent a message of condolence to the Archdiocese of Tabora as tributes to one of the founding lecturers Prof. Charles Nyamiti who died on Tuesday May 19 2020 spreads across the eastern Africa region.
“I received with deep sorrow the news of the passing on to our heavenly home the icon of African theology Rev. Prof. Charles Nyamiti. On behalf of AMECEA, the Secretariat and the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), I would like to convey our condolence to you, the Archdiocese of Tabora and the immediate family of Prof. Nyamiti in this sorrowful moment,” the chairman of AMECEA has written to Most Rev. Paul R. Ruzoka who is the archbishop of Tabora.
Recalling the last moment when he met the deceased and Archbishop Ruzoka when they discussed his return from Nairobi to his home Diocese last year Bishop Kasonde says, “Although God blessed Prof. Nyamiti with many talents, he never fell short of faith in God his Creator and commitment to priesthood.”
“During the many years he served at CUEA, Prof. Nyamiti groomed and mentored many young people, the clergy, Religious and laity to explore the science of African theology and appreciate the beauty of fine arts through Church music, talents which he generously shared with many of his students and added flavor to the life of all who lived around him,” Bishop Kasonde added.
Prof Nyamiti served the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) in the Department of Dogmatic Theology from 1984 to 2001. When he retired in accordance with CUEA policy, he went back to Tabora Archdiocese his home Diocese.
In 2002, he returned to Nairobi on request by CUEA through its University council chairman the late Mgr. M. Mgulunde so that he would continue publishing his theological writings.
Discussing with AMECEA chairman about his second return to Tabora last year, Prof. Nyamiti wrote, “Conscious of age my bishop, Archbishop Paul Ruzoka, asks me to return to my home Diocese, a fact which I happily welcome, after 35 years of service to AMECEA in CUEA.”
Born in Tabora, Tanzania, in 1931 he was ordained to priesthood in 1962. Soon after in 1963, he was sent to Louvain University in Belgium where he graduated with a doctorate in Systematic Theology in 1969, a field in which he published more than 56 books. While there, he also developed interest in music with specialization in theory and composition.
He also studied Anthropology in Vienna in Austria, a discipline which opened his eyes to the richness of African cultures and traditional religion. This became the basis of his theological contribution in African Christological investigations where he portrays Jesus as “our Brother-Ancestor.
While in Nairobi, he taught at Hekima Jesuit School of Theology, St Thomas Aquinas Seminary and Apostles of Jesus Theology Scholasticate and he authored more than 56 theological books and articles.
In his eulogy the Vice Chancellor of CUEA Prof. Stephen Mbugua said, “He is certainly one of the greatest theologians CUEA has produced, having written more than 50 theological books and supervised many PhD theses in reflection of his work. When someone does a PhD as a reflection of his work, it means that he was an accomplished theologian. He researched on African ancestors, and now he has joined them.”
“From our sources, we know that he was very strict in his teaching but also in his supervision because he literary advocated quality and something that would contribute to Catholic theology, as a Systematic theologian. Even for those who did not have access to him, his books are available,” he added.
“Prof. Nyamiti was also a person of good morals and good faith. Many lectures here say that even when he talked about Jesus as an ancestor. Conceptualizing it to our African theology, an ancestor is a saint, a person who lived well. He always said that he did not mind meeting Jesus his Ancestor. He was always ready to die and never complained about his ailing health,” noted Prof. Mbugua.
“Going back to his Diocese last year, he carried with him a lorry load of books, meaning that even in his retirement he had not given up on his being a scholar. He is a big reference in the library here at CUEA, and he is still alive as a teaching material to our students and our lecturers, therefore he still lives on because of his contribution,” continue the Vice Chancellor who added, “I think CUEA should have something as a memorial to him.”
In an eulogy which circulated on YouTube, one described him as “the amazing Charles Nyamiti, a pioneer of inculturated theology” while another said, “What a journey! He served the Church so well, and now he rests among his own people.”