Reading the colonial Christian mission : Postcolonialism and Liberation Theology in novels by Mongo Beti and Renʹe Philombe

This study examines three Cameroonian novels written in French in the midtwentieth century, Le Pauvre Christ de Bomba and Le Roi miracule by Mongo Beti and Un Sorcier Blanc a Zangali by Rene Philombe. Each of the three novels deals with the presence of European Christian missions in Cameroon during the colonial era and each one portrays a missionary priest as a principal character. Making use of insight from both Postcolonial literary and cultural theory and Liberation Theology, this work explores the representation of these priests, their relation to the colonial endeavor, and their relations with those whom they encounter. By way of such a reading, the dissertation also explores the often-ignored parallels between Postcolonialism and Liberation Theology. Furthermore, these readings underscore the continued relevance of the questions and challenges raised by the novels, the theory, and the theology.