SUMMARY
The recent and recurring xenophobia/Afrophobia1 in the democratic South Africa contradictsthe notion of God?s preferential option for the poor and the Church?s criticalsolidarity with the poor. The contradiction was exacerbated by the institutionalization ofthe notion of the Church?s critical solidarity with the state.2 It is in particular a disgrace tothe liberating and humanizing legacy of Black Theology in South Africa. This essay reflectson language particularly Bible translation in the incitement of prejudice, stigma, discriminationand violence amongst Black South Africans during the colonial apartheiddispensation3 and now towards the Black African Other4 in the democratic South Africa. Indialogue with the Afrikaans Bible translation it underscores the need to learn from thelessons of the Afrikaners who fought against colonialism and imperialism in order to avoidthe pitfalls of becoming the domestic oppressors. Towards that end the essay engages incritical reflection on the Bible translation in African languages that they do not serve theindigenous process of resisting but reinforce continued colonial and imperial dominationthrough tribalism and ethnicity. It concludes by submitting that Black Theology practitionersneed to contest the power of Bible translation in African languages in order toliberate the Bible ideology of liberation of all people and nations from colonial andimperial ideologies which are now gullibly accepted as the Word of God.