From Gadamer to African Hermeneutics: Contextualizing Understanding as 'fusion of Horizons'

Abstract

The concept of understanding in the interpretative process constitutes a foundational issue in hermeneutics. It is that which gives the basis for a biblical text to bring about the transformation that must occur among any group of people reading the text. However, an important relationship in the process of interpretation- contextualization and 'fusion of horizon'– seem not to have been discussed in detail. This paper explores the relationship between the 'fusion of horizon' as proposed by Gadamer in his philosophical hermeneutics and contextualization in African biblical hermeneutics. The paper argues that understanding, which is the ultimate aim of hermeneutics, could be articulated as 'fusion of horizon' in African biblical hermeneutics. Through content analysis, the paper discusses how the theological message of a text could be understood through a dialogical engagement of the various components of interpretation and how this relates to the philosophical theory of Gadamer. It establishes that the art of contextualizing a biblical text for it to speak to the present life situation of the African involves the fusion of the horizons of the subject matter of the various poles in interpretation. The study underscores that contextualizing understanding requires creativity in the engagement of the various contexts with the text in a harmonious dialogue so that it will allow for a scientific analysis of the perspectives of the contexts to arrive at an informed understanding.