Focus
In this subgroup, an intra- and interdisciplinary research approach is followed with a focus on enhancing the development of the (South) African society in terms of spirituality and leadership. Various intersecting disciplines participate in this sub-programme such as the different theological disciplines, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Community Development Studies and Economic and Management Sciences.
Goals
- To make a holistic contribution to the Africanisation/decolonisation of the curriculum of the different disciplines in the programme.
- To engage and dialogue with different forms of spirituality, leadership and identity in Africa, including church ministries, African initiated churches, African Pentecostalism and Neo-Pentecostal independent churches.
- To determine the influence and impact of African spirituality and identity on the development of the African society.
- To determine the influence and impact of African spirituality and identity on the development of leaders in Africa.
Subprogramme leader
You are also welcome to contact the sub-programme leader:
Prof Philip du Toit
e-mail: Philip.DuToit@nwu.ac.za
Tel: +27 18 389 2824
Members of the Subprogramme
The sub-programme currently consists of 5 full-time academics situated on Mahikeng campus, representing a wide variety of academic foci within the fields of New Testament, Old Testament, Practical Theology and Missiology, creating a variety of opportunities for students who consider further studies. Post-graduate supervision is not campus-bound, and you can study with academics on any of the three campuses.
Please view the short biographies of our team to learn more about their respective research foci and consider reaching out to those with whom you share an academic interest to start a conversation.
Prof Philip Du Toit
Prof Du Toit’s research focus mainly revolves around identity studies in the New Testament, especially the Pauline corpus, which includes critical engagement with theories of identity and postcoloniality from an African perspective. He currently serves as subject chair of New Testament and is a C-rated NRF researcher. He has published numerous articles, chapters in books as well as a monograph titled God’s Saved Israel: Reading Romans 11:26 and Galatians 6:16 in terms of the new identity in Christ and the Spirit (Eugene: Pickwick, 2019).
Prof Du Toit invites students with an interest in any of the above fields to apply for Masters- and Doctoral supervision.
For a complete list of his research outputs, kindly visit one of the following platforms:
Email: philip.dutoit@nwu.ac.za
Prof Alfred Brunsdon
Prof Brunsdon’s research focus includes the contextualization of Practical Theology and pastoral care in the African context. He also has a keen interest in Theological Higher Education in the African and global context in light of the decolonisation discourse and recent developments in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Some of his latest publications started to explore the fields of eco-practical theology and pastoral care against the background of the Anthropocene.
He currently serves as Faculty Coordinator for Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Theology. Prof Brunsdon is a National Research Foundation (NRF) C2-rated researcher and has published extensively in academic journals and book format since 2003.
For a complete list of his research outputs, kindly visit one of the following platforms.
Email: alfred.brunsdon@nwu.ac.za
Dr Zukile Ngqeza
Zukile Ngqeza (PhD) is a Lecturer in the School of Christian Ministry and Leadership of the Faculty of Theology at North-West University, South Africa. He is also a member of the Unit for Reformational Theology and the Development of the South African Society. His research focus is on the application of Gender Studies, Childism, and Trauma Theory as lenses for reading and interpreting the Christian Bible.
For a complete list of his research outputs, kindly visit one of the following platforms:
Email: zukile.ngqeza@nwu.ac.za
Dr Christopher Magezi
Dr Magezi is currently an NRF rated researcher and a Senior Lecturer in Missiology at the North-West University, where he is teaching missiology modules: Missionary Apologetics, Missiology as Missio Dei in the specific context of Africa and Missiology: Perspectives on the participation of the Church in the Missio Dei. Prior his PhD, the areas of interest that his articles focused on included: African theology, African spirituality, gospel contextualisation and migration. Upon completing the doctoral degree in 2018, he was appointed as a post-doctoral fellow at the North-West University. During his tenure, he published 13 academic articles that focused on migration crisis, migration theology and Church responses. Thus, his research shifted from African theology, African spirituality and gospel contextualisation, which came into effect when he assumed his PhD studies on migration situation and Church responses. Since then, his research focus has been on migration.
For a complete list of his research outputs, kindly visit one of the following platforms:
Email: magezi.magezi@nwu.ac.za
Dr Sheurl Davis
Dr. Sheurl V. Davis’s research focus involves postcolonial feminist biblical interpretation in the Old Testament. She is passionate about the interface between scriptural texts, her community, and social justice. She recently completed her PhD, which focused on a contemporary reading of Miriam, Jael and Jezebel in conversation with Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
For a complete list of his research outputs, kindly visit one of the following platforms:
Email: sheurl.davis@nwu.ac.za
Book Projects
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Guidelines for applications:
Before applying for post-graduate studies, consider these helpful guidelines:
- Identify a specific focus in the field of African spiritualities and/or leadership that aligns with one of our academic foci, for example, leadership, identity or spirituality in an African context.
- Prepare a research motivation using the guidelines provided to demonstrate that you have an active interest in a particular field based on identifying a topic by engaging literature.
- Make a proper assessment of your available time and genuine interest in post-graduate studies, as it is a tedious task and is bound by timelines that must be adhered to complete studies in the allowed time.
- Peruse the faculty’s websites to learn more about financial and supervisory support and take note of the obligations of students who fail to adhere to timelines (e.g., reimbursement of bursaries to the faculty).
- Read as many completed studies as possible in your field of interest to get a good idea of what the outcomes of post-graduate studies entail.