"Clio is the ancient Muse of History. When dressed in a scared garb, the muse perrforms for religious people and, in this case, for church historians. The essays address the cutting edge of contemporary African church historiography and the process of appropriation f the gospel in the encounter with Christianity. The essays contend that culture contacts, as in the missionary movement, involve configurations of power. Thus, culture, conversion, and civilizing mission are power concepts, that dominated the relationship between white missionaries and Black Christians even after decolonialization. The African context, shaped by diverse cultures, ecosystems, worldviews, amd poverty explain the changing faces of Christianity."--Publisher, Cover, p. 4.