Xenophobia and Love: Negotiating Reconciliation between South Africa and Nigeria in Light of 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 and 1 John 4:16-21

Abstract

Scholars of humanities, including those in biblical and theological studies, have extensively explored the issue of xenophobia in South Africa. However, little or nothing has been done from biblical and theological perspectives in terms of hurts, especially among those directly affected like Nigerians. Therefore, this paper (re)examines xenophobia from biblical and theological contexts by exploring 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 and 1 John 4:16-21 to negotiate a reconciliation between South Africa and Nigeria. Drawing on the concepts of love and reconciliation in the chosen texts, this paper argues that the violent xenophobic attacks in South Africa are manifestations of hate (lack of love),  and as such love is a site for the negotiation of reconciliation and the representation of true African kinship. It also, shows how Nigerian immigrants in South Africa were directly affected like the Mozambicans and Zimbabweans among others and how the hurts can be calmed through the appeal of love. Data for this interdisciplinary study was gathered from the corpora of media reports on xenophobia in South Africa, especially as it affects Nigerians. Moreover, existing literature in the field  and  the  selected  texts  (2  Corinthians  5:16-21 and  1  John  4:16-21)  will  be  interrogated  using  the  African  method  of  biblical  criticism  (the  evaluative   approach).  The  research  will   add   to   the discourse  of reconciliation/love  theology  and  Pan-Africanism. Besides, humanities scholars  will  appreciate  how  love and reconciliation can bring back the original African kinship to the Church and society.