Where is God? An African Theology of Suffering and Smiling

How do ordinary Africans sustain hope and faith in a world marked by rising poverty, inequality, extremism, poor governance, and unrest—despite the rapid growth of Christianity across the continent? In this book, Stan Chu Ilo explores the spiritual resilience of African communities through the lens of a deeply-felt cultural expression: “suffering and smiling,” a phrase popularized by Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti. Drawing from the lived experiences of everyday African believers, Ilo examines the deep wells of strength, community, tradition, and religious faith that help them endure—and even thrive—amid hardship.