The colonial definition of development has not served Africa well. While Western assessments have generally revolved around a nation's GDP, infrastructure, and the like, African cultures, and the Yoruba people in particular, have traditionally measured development in relation to the amount of peace experienced in a society and the wellbeing of its people.

In this study, Dr. Wole Adegbile examines the political, theological, and cultural contexts of contemporary development activity in Africa, including the impact of modernization theory on African nation-states. He then draws on traditional Yoruba political thoughts and practices, including the similarities between the Yoruba conception of a thriving community and the biblical principle of shalom, to formulate a contextual political theology of development that would holistically address cultural identity and spiritual restoration. Rooted in the intersection of Scripture and traditional African values, this book suggests a way forward for African society, its political leaders, and the church.