SASA Master Class: Outside the Frame: Re-Focusing on Africa's Women in the Ancient Christian World

What happens when we look beyond the traditional centre of ancient Christian history?  This master class reframes the narrative by bringing Africa’s women from the margins to the spotlight. We will recover the stories of powerful yet overlooked figures who shaped the Biblical and Early Christian world, from Hagar, the Egyptian matriarch, to the Cushite wife of Moses; the formidable Kandake (Queen) of Kush, whose treasurer appears in the Book of Acts; the legendary Queen of Sheba; and Perpetua and Felicity, the North African martyrs.

Through guided analysis of primary texts and interactive discussion, participants will learn practical methods to question historical assumptions, interpret silence in the archive, and recontextualise these women as central agents of faith, diplomacy, and power.  This session is more than a history lesson; it is an exercise in looking outside the frame to build an inclusive understanding of antiquity and the Bible.  No prior expertise…