Agana-Nsiire Agana (Recipient of SGSAH scholarship, Nominee: Millennium Excellence Awards Ghana)

Thesis title: A Digital Theological Investigation of Identity Among Ghana's Christian Youth

World Christianity

Year of study: 2

  • Yale-Edinburgh Group on World Christianity the History of the Mission
  • Society for the Study of Theology

Contact details

Address

Street

New College, Mound Place, Edinburgh

City
Post code

Background

Agana-Nsiire Agana is a second year PhD student at the University of Edinburgh School of Divinity, where he obtained his MTh in World Christianity in 2020. A contribution to the emerging field of digital theology, his PhD research is an empirical and theoretical investigation into how social media influence processes of personal identity formation among young Christians in Ghana and how this complicates traditional theological understandings of personhood. Before obtaining a B.A. in Theological Studies, Agana also trained and worked as a software entrepreneur in Ghana.

Qualifications

B.A. Theological Studies

MTh World Christianity

Responsibilities & affiliations

World Christianity Programme Rep (2019/2020, 2020/2021)

Yale-Edinburgh Group on World Christianity the History of the Mission

Society for the Study of Theology 

Undergraduate teaching

Tutor:

THET 08018 - The God(s) of the Philosophers: Proposals and Problems

Postgraduate teaching

Tutor:

PHIL11159 - Philosophy of Religion

THET11046 - Philosophy, Science, and Religion 2: Life and Mind

Research summary

Digital culture and theology

Public theology

Science and religion

Current research interests

A contribution to the emerging field of digital theology, Agana's PhD research is an empirical and theoretical investigation into how social media influence processes of personal identity formation among young Christians in Ghana and how this complicates traditional theological understandings of personhood. Before obtaining a B.A. in Theological Studies, Agana also trained and worked as a software entrepreneur in Ghana.

Past research interests

Free will and divine omniscience

Knowledge exchange

Agana has spoken at Black History Month Scotland on epistemological decolonisation in the academy, 2020. He also shares insights from his research via the Instagram handle @Technophany, which will also be made into a podcast.

Affiliated research centres

Invited speaker

Global Earth Day 2018. A day-long forum on the effects of plastic pollution. Hosted by the Ghana Education Service at the University of Ghana.

Organiser

Conference Administrator, Yale-Edinburgh Group Annual Meeting. Coordinated the organisation of the 2021 annual conference of the Yale-Edinburgh Group on World Christianity and the History of Mission on the theme: Oral, Print, and Digital Cultures, hosted by the Centre for the Study of World Christianity University of Edinburgh and co-sponsored by Yale Divinity School.

Participant

Scholars at the Periphery. Panel on Decolonialisation and Religion in Africa.

GoneDigital Conference 2021.  Annual conference of the Digital Theology Network.

iFaith Workshop, Theme: “Rewiring the House of God: Religious Self-World Relations in the Digital Environment.”

 

7th Africa Together Conference, “Strides of Change.” Hosted by the African Society of Cambridge University.

4th Princeton Humanities Colloquium, “Africa and the Digital Humanities.”

International Research Workshop: Social Media and Religion. Methodological and Theoretical Approaches to social media research.

 

Papers delivered

New College Postgraduate Colloquium 2021. Delivered outline of PhD research entitled “A Digital Theological Investigation of Identity among Ghanaian Youth.”

Yale-Edinburgh Conference on World Christianity and the History of Mission 2021. Delivered a paper entitled: "Save the Date! Pre-Wedding Photos, Social Media, and Church Authority."