Department of Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology

Prof. Fundiswa Kobo

College of Human Sciences
School of Humanities
Associate Professor
Tel: 012 429 4967
E-mail: kobofa@unisa.ac.za

Qualifications

  • PhD Theology, Dogmatics and Christian Ethics, (UP, 2019)
  • MA Theology, Dogmatics and Christian Ethics (UP, 2010)
  • BA Theology Honours, Dogmatics and Christian Ethics cum laude (UP,2008)
  • Bachelor of Theology cum laude (Fort Hare, 2007)

Currently teaching

  • Introductory issues in the study of Christian Spirituality
  • History of Christian Spirituality
  • Christian Mysticism
  • Research Proposal in Christian Spirituality  (Basic research skills in CS)
  • Research Report in Christian Spirituality
  • Decoloniality: Africana Thought, Discourse and Critique
  • Research Report in Gender Studies
  • Supervision of  Masters and Doctoral Studies

Fields of academic interests

  • Christian Spirituality
  • Womanist Theology
  • Black Theology of Liberation
  • African Spirituality
  • Spiritualities of the Global South
  • Decentering Discourses

Field of Specialisation

  • Christian Spirituality
  • Womanist Theology
  • Black Theology of Liberation
  • African Spirituality
  • Systematic Theology
  • Theological Ethics

Books

Book Chapters

  • Kobo, F.A. 2019. Hope in a Pseudo-spirituality of Democracy in South Africa: Religion and Human Security in Troubling Contexts. In Religion and Human Security in Africa edited by E. Chitando & J.  Tarusarira ,pp.177-196.  Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. DOI: 10.4324/9780429019234-12 .

Journal articles

  • 2020. Kobo, F.A . “Ebuhlanti Amandla ngawethu: Womanism and Black Theology of Liberation. In memory of Vuyani Shadrack Vellem”. HTS Teologiese Studies/ Theological Studies. 76(3), a6211. https://doi. org/10.4102/hts.v76i3.6211

  •  2019. Kobo, F.A., “Spirituality trapped in androcentric celebrity cults in South Africa post 1994”. HTS Teologiese Studies/ Theological Studies. HTS Teologiese Studies/ Theological Studies 75(3), 1-7. 2019. Kobo, F.A., " Womanism and Black Anthropology”: in memory of James Cone ", Journal of Theology for Southern Africa, 162-163, special volume, 82-100.

  • 2018. Kobo, F.A., "Black women’s bodies as reformers from the dungeons: The Reformation and womanism", HTS Teologiese Studies/ Theological Studies 74(3), 1-9
  • 2018. Kobo, F.A. "womanist exposition of pseudo-spirituality and the cry of an oppressed African woman", HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies; Vol 74(1), 1-7
  • 2016. Kobo, F.A. “Umfazi akangeni ebuhlanti emzini… A womanist dialogue with Black Theology of Liberation in the 21st century”. HTS Teologiese Studies/ Theological Studies 72(1), 1-6
  • 2014. Kobo, F.A. “Ukusikwa kwentombi xa ikhulelwe: a critique of the practice and a churches’ call to repentance”. Reformed World Volume 64 (2) September 2014 p.94-103

Paper presentations

Key note Addresses

  • 2017. Being a church in Africa Today, Challenges and Opportunities for Women. Africa Communion of Reformed Churches, Lusaka, Zambia, Nov 20-23

Local and International Conferences (papers delivered)

Local

  • 2019. Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA), Post Academic Training (PAT) Conference, “Womanism and Beatification in the 21st Century”, Krugersdorp, Gauteng 19 March.
  • 2019. ‘Interdisciplinary project on abuse of religion and gullibility of the public in the democratic South Africa, College of Human Sciences, Unisa.  “Spirituality trapped in androcentric celebrity cultic practices in South Africa post 1994”, Sunnyside, Pretoria, 06-07 March.
  • 2017. Spirituality Association of South Africa (SPIRASA), “ A Womanist Exposition of Pseudo-spirituality of an Oppressed African Woman”, St Augustines College of SA, October 19
  • 2018. Department of Development Studies, Unisa. “Umfazi akangeni ebuhlanti emzini… A womanist dialogue with Black Theology of Liberation in the 21st century”. Pretoria, 14 September.

International

  • 2021. Colloquium on Faith, race and inequality among young adults in South Africa: Contested and contesting discourses for a better future, “Dare young adults hope in Pseudo promises and spiritualities of democracy?”. Stellenbosch University. 4 February.
  • 2020. Postgraduate Supervision as a Guided Journey of Research and Innovation:Reimagining the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Postgraduate Supervision within the ODeL Context. 1st International Conference. “Literature, Reading and Review: Reimagining the use of sources and Critical engagement in scholarship”. Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University Dallas, Texas.
  • 2019. Ninth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society. "Fragments Of A Black Woman: Spirituality In The Context Of Empire". University of Granada, Granada, Spain, 25-26 April.
  • 2018. Council for World Mission (CWM), Legacies of slavery, “A slave amongst slaves. A womanist Reading of Mark 5  21-34”  Accra, Ghana, Jan 7-12
  • 2018. “A conference on Spirituality, Theology, Education”, “Ubuhlanti and Cross: paradoxes of protest”. Unisa, Pretoria, September 20-22.
  • 2018. Pan African Presbyterian Men Fellowship, “Africa back in worship, God removing the barrier walls. A womanist reading of Ephesians 2 v 14”. Benoni, South Africa, 13-16 June 2018.
  • 2017. Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality (SSCS), Pray Without Ceasing: Perspectives in Spirituality Studies, “A Womanist Exposition of Pseudo-spirituality of an African Woman”, Zurich, Switzerland, June 26-29

Guest Lectures

  • 2020. Guest Lecture (virtual) on the work and scholarship of Prof Vuyani Vellem, “Ubuhlanti: a dewesternising praxis for the liberation of humanity”. Systematic Theology Honours Class, Stellenbosch University.
  • 2020. Guest Lecture (virtual), Black Theology Series, Inclusive Church, United Kingdom.
  • 2019. Guest Lecture, Black Theology, Systematic Theology 2nd year Class, University of Pretoria.
  • 2019. Guest Lecture, Black and Womanist Theologies, Systematic Theology Honours Class, University of Pretoria.
  • 2016. Guest Lecture, 2019. Guest Lecture, Black Theology, Systematic Theology 2nd year Class, University of Pretoria.

 Workshops

  • 2021. UNISA, College of Human Sciences: Masters and Doctoral Research Proposal, “Review of Literature”, via Microsoft Teams.
  • 2020. UNISA, College of Human Sciences: Masters and Doctoral Research Proposal Workshop, “Review of Literature”, via Microsoft Teams Live.
  • 2019. UNISA, College of Human Sciences: Masters and Doctoral Research Proposal Workshop, “Review of Literature”, Polokwane, 2019

Bible Studies

  • 2018. Council for World Mission (CWM) Conference on Legacies of Slavery.  “Women, women, women! Slave amongst slaves, a womanist reading of Mark 5 v 21-34, 07-12 January, Elmina, Ghana.
  • 2018. 2nd Biennial Conference for Pan African Presbyterian Men Fellowship, “Africa back in worship, God removing the barrier walls. A womanist reading of Ephesians 2 v 14”. Benoni, Gauteng, 13-16 June.
  • 2015. World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC)- Africa Communion of Reformed Churches (ACRC)-Northeast Asia Area Council (NEAAC) - Bi-Regional Consultation. A three-day Bible study, under the theme “Gender Reading of the Signs of Time- Bi-regional Conversations, Accra Confession in Tesano (near Accra, Ghana), 16-21 November
  • “A Mission Understanding of WARC: A Historical Overview”.  Hungary, 17-21 November.

Professional positions, fellowships & awards

  • Member of Spirituality Association of South Africa (SPIRASA)
  • Member of  Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality (SSCS)
  • Member of The Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians
  • Member of Religion in Society Network
  • College of Human Sciences Post-Doctoral Incubation Programme

Committees:

  •  2018-: Chair of Departmental Higher Degrees Committee, Department of Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology
  • 2018-: College of Human Sciences Higher Degrees Committee, member.
  • 2019-2020: College of Human Sciences Rep, Student Disciplinary Committee. UNISA.

Editor

  • Guest Editor – HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies journal: VukaniBantuTsohangBatho- a Special Collection on the Spirituality of Liberation (in memory of Prof Vuyani Vellem)
  • Member of Editorial Board – Ecclesial Futures journal

Projects

  • Meal of Peace
  • VukaniBantuTsohangBatho

Other

Devotionals

  • 2020. Kobo, F.A. Womanism and a God that is black and a woman! Council for World Mission: Easter Reflections.  “I, exist! Easter (a) rising Reflections.
  • 2019. Kobo, F.A. God’s Provision, Psalms 36:5-11, 15 April. Council for World Mission: Sundays with CWM: every step together.
  • 2018. Kobo, F.A.  The Great Commission? A womanist reading of Matthew 28:9-10. Council for World Mission Easter reflections. The Dominion of Death is overcome (Romans 6:5). Jesus and the women Matt 28:1-19.
  • 2018. Kobo, F.A. A prayer for the King- became a Messianic expectation, Psalms 72:12-14, 22 October. Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa Mission Month “Wherever I am: Reocgnising God’s heart for the world and my part in His plan”. Week 4: Dimensions of Mission.

Ecumenical Engagements

  • Inclusive Church, UK. The international Black Theology series interview by Ruth Wilde, 31 July 2020.
  • Church Unity Commission (CUC) conference on “Ecumenical Unity”, Hatfield, Pretoria.
  • United Congregational Church in Southern Africa (UCCSA) Third Nokutela Dube All Women’s Annual Public Lecture. Johannesburg. 
  • Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women, Louisville Kentucky, 02-05 August 2018
  • World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC)- Africa Communion of Reformed Churches (ACRC)-Northeast Asia Area Council (NEAAC) - Bi-Regional Consultation in Tesano (near Accra, Ghana), 16-21 November 2015
  • Anglican- Reformed International Dialogue, Kerala, Kochi, South India, 25 October-01 Nov 2015
  • Religions and State Consultation, John Knox Centre, Geneva Switzerland, 11-15 October 2015
  • Pentecostal - Reformed International Dialogue 2014, Hungary, 17-21 November 2014
  • Global Consultation on the Accra Confession, Hannover from 02- 06 November 2014
  • Reformieter Bund-WCRC- Worship Resources Planning Meeting, Hannover from 29 October- 01 November 2014

Global Institutes

  • Global Institute of Theology (GIT) 2014, World Communion of Reformed Churches, San Jose Costa Rica from 04 July- 29 July
  • Global Ecumenical Theological Institute (GETI) 2013, World Council of Churches, Busan South Korea from 25 October- 09 November
  • Global Institute of Theology (GIT) 2012, World Communion of Reformed Churches, Yogyakarta Indonesia from 08 June - 01 July