TOWARD A SYNODAL CHURCH IN AFRICA Echoes from an African Christian Palaver Ikenna U. Okafor, Josée Ngalula, Nicholaus Segeja, Stan Chu Ilo, editors This compendium of original essays by leading Catholic African scholars explores the meaning of synodality for the African church, with reference to the established method of African theology: “palaver,” or talking—and listening—together. Opening with messages by Pope Francis and Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, the contributions offer explications of vital themes such as “Proclaiming the Word of God to Young People,” migration, theology of the people, “Ubuntu,” a postcolonial critique of clericalism, the social dimension of synodality, the way of the laity, contested moral issues, the role of basic ecclesial communities, and the missionary role of communications. Contributors John Okoye, Bishop of Awgu Diocese, Nigeria Paulin Sébastien Poucouta, Director,Spiritus, Paris, France Emilce Cuda, Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, Vatican City Stan Chu Ilo, DePaul University, USA Josée Ngalula, Catholic University of Congo Nicholaus Segeja, Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), Kenya Raymond Olusesan Aina, National Missionary Seminary of St Paul, Nigeria Ignace Ndongala Maduku, Institute of Religious Studies, University of Montreal, Canada Francis Appiah-Kubi, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology,Ghana Lucio Adrian Ruiz