Mercy Oduyoye

Oduyoye has been awarded honorary degrees by University of Amsterdam (1991), Stellenbosch University (2009), the University of the Western Cape (2002), and Yale University (2008).

Oduyoye implicitly offers a cultural criticism akin to postcolonial theology, which aims to challenge Western norms based on indigenous cultural thinking. In the 1981 assembly of Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologians in New Delhi, India, Oduyoye addressed what she termed as "irruption within the irruption. For her, gender division has taken root in the Global South inspired by colonial structures. Oduyoye uses the trait of hospitality and sisterhood to help people in the Global South deal with the effects of shared oppressions. In a way, when countries in the Global South help one another, they act in genuine solidarity because they share the same experiences. Collaboration is a dream that can help achieve impactful achievement. Oduyoye leaves the legacy of doing something where it is needed. She shows the role of confidence and sophistication that lies in individuals to chase after in changing the world as they see it fit.

Along with her academic posts, Oduyoye worked for a number of ecumenical organizations. She worked for the World Council of Churches, first as youth education secretary (1967–1979), then as Deputy General Secretary (1987-1994). From 1970-1973, she worked as the All Africa Conference of Churches' (AACC) Youth Secretary at the Ibadan office. She served as president of the World Student Christian Federation and founded the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians in 1989.

After she finished her studies at Cambridge, Oduyoye taught at Princeton Theological Seminary, in the 1960s, then Harvard University, Union Theological Seminary, and the University of Ibadan in the 1970s. She is currently director of the Institute of Women in Religion and Culture at Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon.

Oduyoye attended Mmofraturo, a Methodist girls boarding school in Kumasi, Ghana, where Biblical scholarship was a required study. In 1959, Oduyoye went to the University of Ghana to study theology. However, at the time, it was not a popular subject for many universities undergraduates, especially for women, and she felt alone when she decided to pursue it. Later on, she realized that many African women studied theology as they went on to pursue masters and further studies in the field. For her, African Women's theology means, "we are African, we are women, and we are a theologian." She eventually completed her Bachelor of Theology from the University of Ghana in 1963, and continued to Cambridge University for her second BA (1965) and MA (1969), both in theology.

In 1948, Oduyoye experienced the atmosphere of Ghana's independence as Ghana boycotted European goods. Her sense of Pan-African increased. For President Kwame Nkrumah, "...Ghana's Independence meant nothing if the rest of Africa was not Independent." This quote inspired Oduyoye's work because she saw liberation as intrinsic to African Women's Theology. Furthermore, the ways Europe subjugated Ghana's wealth contradicted Oduyoye's experiences on her grandfather's Cacao farm of an interconnected economy. Also, marriage in African culture interconnects with wealth. The most leading case for polygamy in Africa, is connected to successful men, economically.

Mercy Amba Ewudziwa Oduyoye (née Yamoah; born 21 October 1934) is a Ghanaian Methodist theologian known for her work in African women's theology. She is currently the director of the Institute of African Women in Religion and Culture at Trinity Theological Seminary, Ghana.

Mercy Amba Ewudziwa Oduyoye was born on her grandfather's cacao farm in Amoanna, near Asamankese, Ghana, in October 1934. The name Ewudziwa is of Akan origin and was given to her in honour of her grandfather. Oduyoye's story begins from her location where African theology, the impression of African women, and African culture influenced her greatly. She was the first-born child of nine siblings born to Charles Kwaw Yamoah, a teacher and pastor who became president of the Methodist Church in Ghana and a "strong-willed" mother, Mercy Dakwaa (Turkson) Yamoah.

The Africa continent is a multi-religious context, with many Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, and Sikhs. Furthermore, many African indigenous cultures such as the Yoruba or the Akan emphasize strong gendered roles. These aspects of African culture can be reinforced within Christianity. Oduyoye sees the need to hold African churches accountable as she emphasises men and women as having equal status before God. Hence, in marriage, contracts should not be looked upon which party benefits but a live a life of the partnership. Oduyoye sees the need to re-evaluate African indigenous cultures because she sees colonialism as a system that interfered with them, such as martial law by the British in Lagos 1864. Oduyoye encourages women not to remain quiet but realise they hold the brick in forming churches in their communities. She seems theology in Africa outside the western interpretation because both men and women play a role in the body of Christ which is the Church.