To bury your talent is to show disrespect to the one who gave it to you...

As I’m in Ghana this week, I thought it only fitting to highlight Mercy Oduyoye, a renowned Ghanaian theologian known for her work to empower African women. Oduyoye was born in 1934 on a cocoa farm, the oldest of nine, and the daughter of an ordained Minister, Charles Kwaw Yamoah and an activist for women, Mercy Yaa Dakwaa Yamoah. She is currently the Director of the Institute of African Women in Religion and Culture at Trinity Theological Seminary, Ghana. Her work is most strongly characterized by a commitment to challenging the patriarchal structures found in both Christianity and African societies.

Oduyoye went to a boarding school in Kumasi, Ghana, where she got her start in biblical courses. She went on to study theology at the University of Ghana, and was one of the earliest African women to obtain a bachelor’s degree in theology. She studied at the University of Cambridge, and held teaching positions at a variety of institutions. She also did research in the late 1970s that uncovered vast inequities in Church communities including sexism, racism and classism. This early research guided her interests over the next decade as she sought out other African women aiming to interpret all faith traditions through the lens of women’s empowerment. In 1989, she convened and launched the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians in Accra. The first meeting gathered almost 80 women together as they aimed to address patriarchy and racism rooted in culture and religion – and Oduyoye went on to mentor many women in the theological field. Today, the Circle has chapters in more than a dozen countries across Africa, and diaspora chapters in the West.

Through her work, Oduyoye advocated for women to use their talents, stating simply: “To bury your talent is to show disrespect to the one who gave it to you.” She had experienced the Black liberation theology movement, but sometimes felt them not inclusive of feminist issues, especially for African women. While she saw the Western feminist theologian’s movement evolve over time, she disagreed with their emphasis on sexuality and their depiction of missionaries. Oduyoye advocated for the embrace of the indigenous cultures in Africa, and argued that men and women should have equal status before God. Her legacy continues to inspire scholars and activists alike, as she challenges us to envision a theology that is inclusive, liberating, and responsive to the diverse realities of African women's lives. Indeed, for our own Impact Girls programs, we seek to encourage our female students to bring all of their selves to school, shining a light on their talents, and encouraging them to develop as individuals!