Courses

2022: Humboldt Universität zu Berlin

• Guest lecturing for the course "Religion* - Gender* - Hermeneutics*. On the Performance of Religious (Traditional) Texts" on "Postcoloniality – Gender – Theology. Critical Perspectives on Power”

2021: University of Münster

• Guest lecturing for the course “Women and Religion in Africa”, led by Dr Sara Fretheim, on “Creation Care: Women, Environment and Eco-Theology”
• Guest lecturing for the course “Responsibility – Justice – Sociality as Topics of Education in Ethics”, led by Prof. Judith Kӧnemann, with a focus on educational justice in Burkina Faso, particularly women’s education

2017 to present: Institut Pastoral Hébron, Bouaflé, Cȏte d’Ivoire

• Research Methods: Field Work (Interviews, Participant Observations and Conversations, and Data Analysis)

2017 to present: Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture, Ghana

• Holistic Mission and Development (Biblical Texts: Creation, Land and Community as Biblical Themes, and Studies in Transformational, Integral and Sustainable development)
• Research Methods: Gospel and Culture; Contemporary and Perennial Issues

Research

Research Topics:

• Global Christianity
• African Christianity
• Christian History
• African Indigenous Religions
• Holistic Mission and Development
• Gospel and Culture
• Gender Studies

Current project: Gender and Holistic Mission: A Christian Response to the Lobi/Birifor Marriage for an Effective Transformational Development in West Africa (Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana) [working title]

In my current research project I am using the Lobi/Birifor marriage as a case study to show women’s role from the household to the entire society. Therefore, I will examine some of the pressures put on women due to the meaning of Lobi/Birifor marriage and how these pressures affect women’s life in both society and church, thus limiting them from fully participating in development even as it is obvious that they are key agents for achieving a meaningful development in the world.

My work focuses on the following questions:

• How do we challenge unjust structures of society from the household to the entire society and within the church to enable the Lobi/Birifor women to thrive and to effectively participate in the holistic transformation of the world?
• How does the Christian message interpret Lobi/Birifor marriage and the treatment of women and what is a Christian response that enables true transformation?

Biography

Bibliography

Forthcoming publications

• ‘Religion and (in)Security in Contemporary West Africa: A Case Study of Social Cohesion in Burkina Faso.’

Monograph

• Dah, Ini Dorcas: Women do more work than men; Birifor women as Change Agents in the Mission and Expansion of the Church in West Africa (Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana), Akropong-Akuapem: Regnum Africa (2017).

Edited Volume

• Dah, Ini Dorcas; Blasu, Ebenezer Yaw; Gaisie, Rudolf K. (eds.): Understanding the Gospel, Culture and Environment: Essays in Honour of Allison Mary Howell, Accra: University of Ghana Printing Press (2022).

Articles

Articles with peer-review

• Walton, James; Dah, Ini Dorcas: ‘Heroes and Heroines of the Christian faith in Ghana/ celebration of Christian Leaders’ (forthcoming).
• Dah, Ini Dorcas; Owusu-Ansah, Sylvia: ‘Diaconia and Christian Witness: An Investigation into the Modes and Practices of Diaconia in West Africa’, in: Eurich, Johannes; Hofmann, Beate; Moos, Thorsten (eds.): Diaconia in an international perspective, Oxford: Regnum Books (2022).
• Dah, Ini Dorcas: ‘Role of Prayer, Miracles, Healing and Deliverance in Birifor Conversion to the Christian Faith’, in: Kahl, Werner: Miracles in the Gospels and Contemporary Christianity in West Africa. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang (2022).
• Dah, Ini Dorcas: ‘An Examination of the Significance of the Birifor Clan System and Its Impact on the Church among the Birifor’, in: Dah, Ini Dorcas; Blasu, Ebenezer Yaw; Rudolf K., Gaisie (eds.): Understanding the Gospel, Culture and Environment: Essays in Honour of Allison Mary Howell. Accra: University of Ghana Printing Press (2022).
• Parsitau, Damaris; Mombo, Esther; Dah, Ini Dorcas; Gitonga, Tatiana Wairimu: ‘‘Mama I Can’t Breathe!’ Black/African Women of Faith Groaning for Social Justice and Gender Equality”, Mission Studies 38/3 (2021), pp. 448-469.
• Howell, Allison M.; Dah, Ini Dorcas: ‘Entry into the Field, Observation and Participant Observation in Theological Research in Non-Western Contexts’, Journal of African Christian Thought 24/1 (2021), pp. 63-73.
• Dah, Ini Dorcas: ‘Côte d’Ivoire’, in: Johnson, Todd M.; Zurlo, Gina A. (eds.): World Christian Encyclopaedia 3. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press (2020), pp. 226-228.
• Dah, Ini Dorcas: ‘Centre International d’Evangélisation/Mission Intérieure Africaine’s Contribution to Sustainable Development through Transformational Development’, in: Ӧhlmann, Philipp; Gräb, Wilhelm; Frost, Marie-Luise (eds.): African Initiated Christianity and the Decolonisation of Development; Sustainable Development in Pentecostal and Independent Churches. London/New York: Routledge (2020), pp. 253-263.
• Dah, Ini Dorcas: ‘Desacralisation of Gold in South West Burkina Faso: A Christian response to gold mining and its consequences on creation’, in: Ntreh, Benjamin Abotchie; Aidoo, Mark S.; Aboagye Aryeh, Daniel Nii (eds.): Essays on the Land, Ecotheology, and Traditions in Africa. Eugene, Oregon: Wipf and Stock Publishers (2019), pp. 192-204.
• Dah, Ini Dorcas: ‘From Cocoa farmer to Itinerant Preacher: The Ministry of Abraham Danyuo and his daughters’, in: Addo-Fening, Robert; Howell, Allison (eds.): The ‘Golden Pod’: Its Religious, Socio-Economic and Political Impact on the Gold Coast and Ghana. Akropong-Akuapem: Regnum Africa (2018), pp. 194-211.
• Balcomb, Anthony; Chirongoma, Sophie; Dah, Ini Dorcas; Woldegiorgis, Seblewengel Daniel; Deouyo, Paul; Gaisie, Rudolf K.; Howell, Allison: ‘Spirituality and Hope in Africa: A Study in Five Countries’, International Bulletin for Mission Research 41/4 (2017), pp. 336-346.
• Dah, Ini Dorcas: ‘Expanding Models of Mission: The Case of Mission Among Birifor Women in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana’, Journal of African Christian Thought 19/1 (2016), pp. 29-40.
• Dah, Ini Dorcas: ‘Birifor Women Leaders in Christian Mission: A Case Study of the Impact of Two Women on the Growth of the Apostolic Church of Ghana and the Eglise Protestante Evangélique du Burkina Faso’, Journal of African Christian Thought 17/2 (2015), pp. 16-24.

Articles without peer-review

• Dah, Ini Dorcas: ‘Seeing The Birifor Practice of Funerals Through the Lenses of The Scripture’ (forthcoming).
• Dah, Ini Dorcas: ‘Gender and Holistic Mission: A Christian Response to the Lobi/Birifor Marriage for an Effective Transformational Development in West Africa (Burkina Faso, Cȏte d’Ivoire and Ghana)’ (forthcoming).
• Dah, Ini Dorcas: ‘Women’s Understanding of Prosperity and Wellbeing in West Africa’, in: Mugambi, Kiama: Prosperity and Wellbeing in African Christianity, Nairobi: Africa Theological Network Press (forthcoming).
• Dah, Ini Dorcas: ‘Sharing Common Space between Christians and Muslims in daily life in Burkina Faso’ (forthcoming).
• Dah, Ini Dorcas: ‘Spirituality and Hope in Africa: The Case of Burkina Faso’ (forthcoming).
• Dah, Ini Dorcas: ‘An Examination of the Socio-Cultural and Religious Impact of the European Colonial Rule on the People of South West Burkina Faso’ (forthcoming).
• Dah, Ini Dorcas: ‘Understanding Prophetism in Burkina Faso: A Case study of Some Selected Churches’ (forthcoming).

Conference/workshop papers

13th November 2024: Science to Start-up Convention #S2SC 2024, Turning Science into Start-ups, REACH-EUREGIO, Geiststraße 24–26.

6th November 2024: CERES Convention on Staying in Germany and How to Start a Business at the Alexander Von Humboldt House, Hufferstrasse 61.

22nd to 28th September 2024: Sangdo Convensia, Incheon, Seoul, South Korea: The Fourth Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization. Theme: ‘Let the Church Declare and Display Christ Together.’ Affinity Host: Contextual Mission, Gap 22: Ethnicism and Racism.

16th to 19th July 2024: Saint Nicholas Theological Seminary, Cape Coast, Ghana: “Religion, Faith, and Development in Ghana and Jamaica: “Connecting Transatlantic Voices and Enhancing Leadership through Academic Writing Workshops.”

7th to 12th July 2024: Akrofi-Christialler Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture: African Christian History and Biography Workshop: Writing the Stories of Women, Co-Teacher with Michele Sigg on the history of Christianity in West Africa (second phase).

16th to 21st March 2024: Saint Nicholas Theological Seminary, Cape Coast Ghana: African Christian History and Biography Workshop: Writing the Stories of Women, Co-Teacher with Michele Sigg on the history of Christianity in West Africa (first phase).

11th to 15th March 2024: Princeton Theological Seminary/OMSC/University of Ghana, 5th International Interdisciplinary Conference on World Christianity. Venue: Institute of Statistics, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) Conference Center, University of Ghana, Legon. Theme: Revisiting Women and Gender in World Christianity.

Paper Presented: Hidden Women Leaders in Christian Mission: A Case Study of the Ministry of Suzanna Yirilo in Northern Ghana.

6th to 8th March 2024: Sankt Georgen Graduate School of Philosophy and Theology Institute for Global Church and Mission (IWM), Frankfurt am Main, online participant. Theme: Untold Stories – Women in Mission.

19th December 2023: Public Lecture at the Protestant Faculty of University of Munster, Munster, Germany.

Paper Presented: The Role of Women in Church and Nations building: A Case Study of Selected Women Movements in West Africa (Burkina Faso, Cȏte D’Ivoire and Ghana).

19th to 23rd November 2023: Network of Christian-Muslim Scholars Conference, Accra, Ghana

Paper presented: Religion and (in)Security in Contemporary West Africa: Case Study of Social Cohesion in Burkina Faso.

14th to 17th November 2023: Lausanne Africa Middle East Conference, I participated virtually.

7th to 10th November 2023: Korean Global Mission Leaders Forum on the Theme ‘The Gospel of Hope: Missional Responses to Environmental and Human Calamities.

Paper presented: Gold Mining in the Southwest of Burkina Faso and Christian Mission: The Great Commission and Structural Evil

7th to 9th November 2022. Cabo Verde, National Library, Praia, Santiago Island

Paper Presented: An Examination of the Socio-Cultural and Religious Impact of the European Colonial Rule on the People of South West Burkina Faso.

20th to 21st October 2022. Akademie Frans Hitze Haus, Munster, Germany. Theme of the conference: Theology: Biographical—Contextual—Intersectional, organised by Arbeitsstelle für Theologische Genderforschung Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster.

21st to 23rd September 2022, Tumekutana Virtual Gathering Resilience in the Midst of Covid-19: The African Woman's Perspecitve (Virtual). Member of the Testament Committee.

Paper Presented: Standing in the Gap (Ezekiel 22: 30) for Fellow Human Beings Created in the Image of God (Genesis 1:26-27).

24th November 2021: The Sanneh Institute Virtual Lecture on ‘Boko Haram: An Islamic or Terrorist Group?

28th October 2021: Institute for Christian Impact Consultative Dialogue on ‘Managing Business and Professional Life with Kingdom Perspective in Challenging Times (I served as the interpreter from English to French for the Francophone audience).

29th September 2021: The Sanneh Institute Virtual Lecture on ‘Religion and Corruption in Africa: A Christian Perspective.

17th to 18th June 2021: Sustainable Medical Mission Advance Conference on Neglected Tropical Diseases and Covid-19, Sogakokpe, Ghana.

10th February 2021: Akrofi-Christaller Institute: Faculty Workshop on Supervision (Virtual).

1st and 15th October 2020: Sustainable Medical Missions: Webinar on the eradication of Neglected Tropical diseases and Covid-19.

18th August 2020: Lamin Sanneh Institute: Webinar on ‘Witchcraft, Religion and Law in Ghana’.

30th April 2020: Institute for Christian Impact: Consultative Dialogue on Christian Witness in the Public Arena.

Theme: The Implication of covid-19 Pandemic on Christian Witness in the Public Sphere (virtual).

6th to 12th October 2019: Langham Preaching Women’s Forum in Tochni Village, Cyprus, on the theme: Nurturing, Empowering and Equipping Women for Effective Service.

Paper Presented: Our Cultures and the Role of Women and Preaching: Sharing Stories of Obstacles, Challenge and Discouragement [in small groups and summaries of key themes emerging].

27th to 29th June 2019: Yale-Edinburgh Group Meeting on the History of the Missionary Movement and World Christianity, Yale Divinity School, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

Paper presented: Exploring the Birifor Clan system and the Impact on the Church among the Birifor.

7th to 9th November 2022. Cabo Verde, National Library, Praia, Santiago Island

Paper Presented: An Examination of the Socio-Cultural and Religious Impact of the European Colonial Rule on the People of South West Burkina Faso.

20th to 21st October 2022. Akademie Frans Hitze Haus, Munster, Germany. Theme of the conference: Theology: Biographical—Contextual—Intersectional, organised by Arbeitsstelle für Theologische Genderforschung Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster.

21st to 23rd September 2022, Tumekutana Virtual Gathering Resilience in the Midst of Covid-19: The African Woman's Perspecitve (Virtual). Member of the Testament Committee.

Paper Presented: Standing in the Gap (Ezekiel 22: 30) for Fellow Human Beings Created in the Image of God (Genesis 1:26-27).

24th November 2021: The Sanneh Institute Virtual Lecture on ‘Boko Haram: An Islamic or Terrorist Group?

28th October 2021: Institute for Christian Impact Consultative Dialogue on ‘Managing Business and Professional Life with Kingdom Perspective in Challenging Times (I served as the interpreter from English to French for the Francophone audience).

29th September 2021: The Sanneh Institute Virtual Lecture on ‘Religion and Corruption in Africa: A Christian Perspective.

17th to 18th June 2021: Sustainable Medical Mission Advance Conference on Neglected Tropical Diseases and Covid-19, Sogakokpe, Ghana.

10th February 2021: Akrofi-Christaller Institute: Faculty Workshop on Supervision (Virtual).

1st and 15th October 2020: Sustainable Medical Missions: Webinar on the eradication of Neglected Tropical diseases and Covid-19.

18th August 2020: Lamin Sanneh Institute: Webinar on ‘Witchcraft, Religion and Law in Ghana’.

30th April 2020: Institute for Christian Impact: Consultative Dialogue on Christian Witness in the Public Arena.

Theme: The Implication of covid-19 Pandemic on Christian Witness in the Public Sphere (virtual).

6th to 12th October 2019: Langham Preaching Women’s Forum in Tochni Village, Cyprus, on the theme: Nurturing, Empowering and Equipping Women for Effective Service.

Paper Presented: Our Cultures and the Role of Women and Preaching: Sharing Stories of Obstacles, Challenge and Discouragement [in small groups and summaries of key themes emerging].

27th to 29th June 2019: Yale-Edinburgh Group Meeting on the History of the Missionary Movement and World Christianity, Yale Divinity School, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

Paper presented: Exploring the Birifor Clan system and the Impact on the Church among the Birifor.

15th to 21st September 2018, 4th Tumekutana: African Presbyterian/Reformed Women Leaders’ Gathering in Johannesburg, South Africa on the theme: Woman, You Are the Image of God,

Paper presented: ‘Living out the image of God’ (in the African context).

23rd to 30th July 2018, Young Women Camp, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

Presentation: ‘Developing your friendship with God’.

8th to 10th July 2018, Sustainable Medical Missions Conference at Hephzibah Christian Center, Peduase-Akuapem, Ghana.

Participant and Interpreter from English to French and vice versa.

1st to 7th July 2018, Institute for Christian Impact Seminar on Mission for a Bright Africa: Beyond the Talk to Impactful Action.

Paper presented: ‘The Strategic Role of Women in Nation Building’.

28th to 30th June 2018, Yale-Edinburgh Group Meeting on the History of the Missionary Movement and World Christianity, New College, Edinburgh University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Paper Presented: Prayer, Miracles, Healing and Deliverance in the Process of Birifor Conversion to the Christian Faith.

5th to 7th June 2018, West African Association for Theological Institutions (WAATI), Ghana Zone on the Bible and Caring for the Land.

Paper Presented:   The Desacralisation of Gold in the South Western Area of Burkina Faso and the Ecological Consequences.

18th to 20th January 2018, Princeton Theological Seminary: Currents, Perspectives and Methodologies in World Christianity.

Paper presented: Exploring the Contribution of Birifor Women to the Growth of the Church through their Involvement in Christian Women’s Organizations in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.

4th to 10th December 2017, Catalyst for Africa, 1st Summit, I. Care Center for Leadership Training, Yaoundé Cameroun.

14th September 2017, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Research Project: Potentials of Cooperation with African Initiated Churches for Sustainable Development, Pentecost Convention Center, Gomoa Fetteh, Central Region, Ghana.

Paper presented: ‘Centre International d’Evangélisation/Mission Intérieure Africaine: Its Ministry and Involvement in Sustainable Development in Burkina Faso’.

 1st to 5th August 2017, West African Association for Theological Institutions (WAATI) Conference, Pentecost University, Accra, Ghana.

Paper presented: ‘Birifor Women in Christian Mission: The Influence of Suzanna Chiportey Yirilo on the Growth of the Apostolic Church of Ghana’.

6th to 12th August 2017, Institute for Christian Impact Seminar, Hephzibah Christian Center on the theme: Mission for a Bright Africa; To Be or not to Be?

6th to 9th July 2017, Sustainable Medical Missions Conference at Sunloge Hotel, Tesano Accra

Participant and Interpreter from English to French and vice versa.

29th June to 1st July 2017, Yale-Edinburgh Group Meeting, Yale Divinity School, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

Paper presented: ‘The Itinerant Preaching of Abraham Danyuo and his Daughters, Esther and Mary Danyuo as a Result of Danyuo’s Migration to Southern Ghana’.

18th to 23rd September 2016, Workshop on Spirituality and Hope in Africa, second phase

Paper presented: ‘The Case of Burkina Faso’.

10th to 16th July 2016, Institute for Christian Impact Seminar, Hephzibah Christian Center, Peduase Akuapem, on the Theme: Mission for a Bright Africa.

9th to 13th May 2016, Workshop on Spirituality and Hope in Africa, first phase,

Paper presented: ‘The Case of Burkina Faso’.

20th to 21st October 2015, Cocoa Conference at the Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture, Ghana.

Paper presented: ‘The Role of Cocoa in the Itinerant Preaching of Abraham Danyuo and his Daughters, Esther and Mary Danyuo’.

26th to 28th June 2014, Yale-Edinburgh Group Meeting, New College, Edinburgh University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Paper presented: ‘Birifor Women in Christian Mission: A Case Study of the Impact of Two Women on the Growth of the Apostolic Church of Ghana and the Eglise Protestante Evangélique du Burkina Faso’.

23rd to 26th June 2014, Summer School, Andrew Walls Centre for the Study of Asian and African Christianity, Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool, United Kingdom

Paper presented: ‘Birifor Women in Christian Mission: A Case Study of the Impact of Two Women on the Growth of the Apostolic Church of Ghana and the Eglise Protestante Evangélique du Burkina Faso’.

27th to 29th June 2013, Yale-Edinburgh Group Meeting at Yale Divinity School, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

Memberships

2023 to present: Board Member of Serving In Mission/ West Africa Missions Office

2022 to present: Member of Lausanne Movement on World Evangelism

2022 to present: Member of the Korean Global Mission Leadership Forum

2020 to present: Member of Langham Women Advisory Group

2019 to present: Member of Langham Women Forum

2018 to present: Member of the International Association for Mission Studies

2017 to present: Member of World Christianity Group, Princeton Theological Seminary

2017 to present: Member of Langham Expository Preaching advisory, Burkina Faso

2017 to present: Member of Catalyst for Africa

2017 to present: Member of Sustainable Medical Missions

2016 to present: Member of the Institute for Christian Impact

2012 to present: Member of the Yale-Edinburgh Group on the History of the Missionary Movement and World Christianity

2012 to present: Member of the Society for the Study of Theology,

2010 to present: Founder and president of l’Association Evangélique pour la Joie et le Développement de la Femme (the Evangelical Association for the Joy and the Development of Women), Burkina Faso.

2008 to present: Member the Akuapem-Ridge Interdenominational Church, Ghana

2007 to present: Member of Pastors’ Wives’ Association, Eglise Protestante Evangélique du Burkina Faso.

2005 to present: Member of l’Alliance des Femmes Evangéliques du Burkina Faso (AFE) and of the Pan African Christian Women Alliance (PACWA) in Africa, and facilitator for the care for HIV/AIDS widows and orphans (World Relief, Burkina Faso) on behalf of the group.

2004 to present: Member of l’Association des Femmes de l’Eglise Protestante Evangélique du Burkina Faso (AF/EPE).

1990 to present: Member of le Mouvement Flambeaux-Lumières, and Team Leader, Burkina Faso.

1990 to present: Member of l’Eglise Protestante Evangelique du Burkina Faso

1985 to present: Member of l’Eglise des Assemblées de Dieu