Samaritan Compassion (Luke 10:25–37) and African Socioeconomic Problems

Résumé

The worsening conditions of many African states have caught global attention for a very long time with no end in sight. It is concerning that oppressive leadership, which does not promote the common good of the populace, permeates the African landscape. This development has aggravated social disparity and discrimination and caused great havoc to the psyche and wellbeing of the African masses. However, the debacle results from a complex matrix; it is unacceptable to pin it solely on the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism. With vast African resources, the term ‘poor Africans’ ought to be a misnomer. Thus, using a literary-critical approach, this paper presents the argument that imbibing the Samaritan’s compassion can significantly address Africa’s socioeconomic problems. Avoiding the pitfalls of the robbers, the priest, and the Levite, through a lifestyle of love and compassion in policies and programmes, will help mitigate African socioeconomic issues.