African eco-spiritualities and climate justice: Afro-ecofeminism perspectives on Genesis 2:4–17

Abstract

Genesis 2:4–17 offers a foundational account of human–earth relations within the Eden narrative, portraying Mother Earth as a divinely crafted habitat and humanity as both nurtured by and responsible for the land. This article presents an exegetical reading of the passage, engaging historical–critical scholarship and Ancient Near Eastern contexts to unpack its theological emphasis on the interdependence between human beings אָדָם [adam] and the soil אֲדָמָה [adamah] from which they are formed. Drawing on insights from biblical scholars and Eco-theologians, the study foregrounds the ecological dimensions inherent in the text, including themes of cultivation, care and divinely instituted limits on human consumption. Through an Afro-ecofeminism lens, the article then correlates these findings with Indigenous African knowledge systems, where women have historically served as custodians of ecological wisdom. In many African communities, Afro-Indigenous practices have long guided environmental stewardship, from forecasting climatic shifts to sustaining biodiversity through spiritual and communal traditions. Women, deeply embedded in these eco-spiritual roles, preserve and transmit ancestral ecological knowledge and practices that resonate with the biblical portrayal of humanity’s sacred duty towards the earth. By integrating exegetical insights with African eco-spiritualities, this study reimagines Genesis 2:4–17 as a text of interdependence, care and ethical responsibility. In doing so, it contributes to climate justice discourse by bridging biblical scholarship with Indigenous African religious traditions.

Contribution: This article employed an Afro-ecofeminism lens to explore Genesis 2:4–17 alongside Indigenous African ecological perspectives, foregrounding the role of African women as custodians of ecological wisdom. It argued that Afro-Indigenous spiritual and environmental knowledge offers vital insights for addressing climate challenges. By integrating biblical and African ecological ethics, the study underscores how traditional ecological knowledge can advance sustainable practices, food security and climate justice. In doing so, it contributes to decolonial theological discourse and reclaims Indigenous African eco-spiritualities as essential to global ecological sustainability.