Grand Prix of Literary Associations
1 appearances
-
Edition 6 (2018) Winner
Jean-Marc Ela
ジャン＝マルク・エラ
Jean-Marc Ela
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1936-09-27 （Ebolowa, Cameroon）
- Died
- 2008-12-26 （Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada） age 72
- Nationality
- Cameroonian
- Languages
- French, English
- Religion
- Catholicism
- Residence History
- Ebolowa (birthplace) → Tokombéré (mission work) → Yaoundé (teaching/research) → Montreal (exile/residence) → Vancouver (death)
Career
- Occupations
- Sociologist, Theologian, Priest, Professor, Author
- Active Years
- 1960-2008
- Affiliations
- University of Yaoundé (faculty), Université Laval (professor)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Strasbourg | — | Philosophy and Theology (studies; also sociology) | — | 1960年代 | France |
| University of Paris (Sorbonne) | — | Sociology | — | 1960年代 | France |
University of Strasbourg
Philosophy and Theology (studies; also sociology)
Period:
1960年代
Country:
France
Studied philosophy, theology and sociology at Strasbourg. Thesis on the image of the cross in Luther's theology.
University of Paris (Sorbonne)
Sociology
Period:
1960年代
Country:
France
Continued studies in sociology.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Grand Prix de la mémoire | — | — | Grand Prix of Literary Associations (GPLA) | 受賞 |
Grand Prix de la mémoire
2018
Organization:
Grand Prix of Literary Associations (GPLA)
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Cri de l'homme Africain (African Cry)
1980 Theology / Social sciencesA critique of Catholic Church and missionary structures that subordinate African people, arguing for a contextualized theology that respects local practices and everyday life. It advances a community-centered liberation theology for Africa.
Liberation theologyContextualization (inculturation)CommunityDignity of everyday life
Translations
- English translation: African Cry
Ma foi d'Africain (My Faith as an African)
1985 TheologyDiscusses faith rooted in Africa and calls for rethinking church practices and liturgy to fit local contexts. Advocates using local resources and small-group biblical interpretation ('shade-tree theology').
Localization of liturgySelf-sustaining churchesGrassroots interpretation
Translations
- English translation: My Faith as an African
L'Afrique des villages
1982 SociologyFocuses on rural societies and everyday practices, arguing that development and research must address the basic needs of local populations.
Rural studiesLocally oriented social science
Bibliography
- 1971 La plume et la pioche
- 1980 Cri de l'homme Africain (African Cry)
- 1985 Ma foi d'Africain (My Faith as an African)
- 1982 L'Afrique des villages
- 2007 L'Afrique à l'ère du savoir: science, society and power
Translations of Works
- Cri de l'homme Africain → English: African Cry
- Ma foi d'Africain → English: My Faith as an African
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Clear, argumentative style that incorporates social-scientific analysisCritical, liberation-oriented discourse
- Recurring Motifs
- CommunityDignity of everyday lifeLand and ruralityChurch autonomy
Legacy
Jean-Marc Ela bridged sociology and theology and became a leading figure in contextualized African liberation theology. His work encouraged the localization of church practice and community-centered theology, influencing theologians and social scientists across Africa. He has been honored posthumously and retains an important place in academic and religious discussions.
Trivia
- Buried in his hometown of Ebolowa.
- Entered voluntary exile in Quebec after the 1995 assassination of fellow Cameroonian priest Englebert Mveng.
- Honoured in 2018 with the GPLA 'Grand Prix de la mémoire'.