Prof. Daneel’s Obituary
Inus Daneel, African Theologian.
Marthinus “Inus” Louis Daneel of Somerville, MA, and Polokwane, South Africa, died on July 29, 2024, at age 87, after a long illness. Daneel was a noted eco-theologian, ecumenist, author of fourteen published scholarly volumes on African Christianity and traditional religion, and founder of ecumenical movements in Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe. He leaves his beloved wife of 28 years, Dana L. Robert Daneel; four adult children Alec Daneel, Lidia Haines (Russell), Talita Du Preez (Drean), and Inus Daneel, Jr. (Annelie); two stepsons Samuel Massie (Wenchi) and John Massie (Bonnie); and twelve grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents Alec and Tina Daneel, his sister Nyasa Groenewald, and his adopted son Leonard Gono. He is survived by three sisters Charlotte Joubert, Alta Klopper, and Cinie-Marie Simmelink.
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After the civil war ended, resulting in the country of Zimbabwe in 1980, Daneel turned over the theological extension work to local church leaders and was appointed Professor of Missiology at the University of South Africa. His marriage to Beulah Curle ended in divorce in 1984. In his 15 years in Pretoria, he taught black and African theologies while commuting to Masvingo, Zimbabwe, where in 1985 with a group of chiefs and spirit mediums, he founded ZIRRCON to restore the lands ecologically-devastated by the civil war. With a traditionalist branch and a Christian branch, ZIRRCON initiated religious rituals for tree-planting, gully reclamation, and similar efforts to “clothe the earth.” For roughly fifteen years, ZIRRCON was the largest grassroots tree-planting movement in southern Africa. It hosted dozens of tree nurseries, 80 women’s clubs, and theological education by extension that included eco-theology and HIV-AIDS awareness.
As a self-professed “nomad” and adventurer, during the late years of the war Daneel designed boats and with his team Mutapa Eagles won multiple championships over a five-year period at the Tiger Invitational Tournament at Lake Kariba, the largest freshwater fishing tournament in the world. In 1996, Daneel married fellow missiologist Dana Robert. He began a decades-long commute between southern Africa and teaching African religions and theology at Boston University. In 2001, Daneel and Robert founded the Center for Global Christianity and 任务 (CGCM). He was a member of the Harvard-Epworth United Methodist Church in Cambridge, MA. His ashes will be interred at Mt. Auburn Cemetery and a memorial service held at a later date. Donations in his memory may be sent to the CGCM online, or physically to the Trustees of Boston University at the Boston University School of Theology, 745 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215.
To read more about M. L. Daneel and his impact on mission, interreligious cooperation, scholarship, and human lives, the Journal of African Christian Biography published a special issue to pay tribute to this extraordinary man.
20 comments
In this life, we meet many people,
Some fade life a summer bleeze,
Others we will take to our graves
–so are you my great professor, mentor and friend. You will always remain in my heart. Rest in peace and rise in glory!
How sad to hear of Dr. Daneel’s passing. What a wonderful man. His life impacted many and he will be missed. Many blessings and condolences to his family.
Joel Gray
I’ve just heard the sad news about Inus and give thanks to God for a wonderful man and servant-scholar of many unusual gifts – especially the gift of friendship beyond boundaries – well loved across the continents: now at home in God’s eternal joy.
Prayers for Dana and all the family.
Very sad to hear the passing away of Dr. Daneel. His contribution to mission scholarship and his selfless service to the African Church and society will be long remembered. Prayers for the family and friends at this moment of grief and for God’s comfort and peace.
Dr. Daneel, your guest lectures to our doctoral students at BU School of Theology many years ago were so fresh and eye-opening. Your insights will be greatly missed. Dr. Dana Robert, you are in our prayers.
It was a blessing and an honor to be able to take a class from Dr. Daneel as part of my doctoral work. I remember learning not only about AICs but also important skills for summarizing the pith of a book’s argument. All that, plus a lot of amazing stories, warmly and entertainingly told. And yet his teaching at BU was just a small part of his many, many accomplishments! Truly a great man. Prayers for Dana and the rest of his family.
My condolences. Never met him but his works greatly enriched my MA and PhD theses especially on faith healing. May God comfort his family and friends
Inus Daneel was the greatest missionary I ever met. His deep faith and passionate heart fired his extraordinary intellect, forged his incredible courage, and fueled his seemingly boundless compassion. Like so many others, I will miss him because I loved him.
What a privilege it was to work with Dr. Daneel on a collection of his hunting stories. As a man tells a story, so he is: with reverence for God, fellow human beings and creation; with humor and self-deprecation; with great sensitivity for the sufffering of humans and animals; with his theology and missiology shining through his practices. A man of God and a servant of his beloved people. Dr. Daneel was also a link to some of the great Dutch theologians and missiologists. It was an honor to know you and listen to your much loved tales. May you roam the bush in peace, for miles on end without ever getting weary again.
Marthinus “Inus” Louis Daneel, cityon du monde, you brought the healing touch to the many worlds to which you belonged –
African and Zimbabwe,
European and The Netherlands,
North America and the U.S.A., and more,
flora and fauna – participant in the Ecozoic Age.
Dear, dear Inus, I know you will be joyously welcomed in the company of heaven with all those saints you’ve accompanied in your rich and profound–and saintly–journey in life, including your lovely parents whom I became acquainted with through the stories you told me on camera about them. (FYI, a biographical piece I created about Inus’ life and work is online here: https://vimeopro.com/jamesault/marthinus-daneel)
I was deeply blessed by your hospitality and guidance in my research and filming among independent church people you worked with in Zimbabwe for my “African Christianity Rising” documentary film series. I enjoyed our lively conversation a few months ago and was looking forward to our next one . . . and still am.
Margaret and I will continue to keep you, Dana and your family and loved ones in our prayers. God’s blessings on your new life!
With gratitude for the many ways Professor Daneel followed the guidance of the Holy Spirit with courage, thoughtfulness, and joy.
Dana, Inus was an inspiring man and a joy to be around. He will be missed by all who knew him. I especially appreciated his many stories and the humble approach with which he lived. May God bless you and family in the days ahead.
I would not have completed my doctorate in missiology were it not for Inus Daneel’s insistence (during a deep sea fishing trip in the Bahamas) to come study with him at BU School of Theology. Our missionary kid experiences in Africa and love of wilderness, hunting and fishing quickly cemented our friendship. Inus (and Dana) patiently guided me through my dissertation on earth keeping in southern Africa, with one chapter devoted to his ground-breaking work. Marthinus Daneel, risk-taking boundary crosser, bridge builder, visionary, missionary, missiologist, African theologian, bishop, big game hunter and fisherman – you have been a great gift to so many. We miss you and your wonderful sense of humor. With gratitude.
As Doctoral Students at BU under Professor Dana Robert, we knew and experienced that, in her, we not only had a excellent and renown thesis advisor, we had a Mother. And Inus treated each one of us, when we visited their Somerville’s family home, as a good father, praying for us, sharing advice, blessing us as we were completing our studies and joining the mission field.
The one I would call “Arch” [standing for Archbishop] will speak too me as the African brother he was, while sharing a few cookies and cup of tea. He would open up about how much he treasured and cherished the love and care he received from a tireless Dana.
As Inus rests in the peace of the Good Lord whom he loved and served, we are grateful for a life well-lived. We also pray and extend our love and support to Dana, as Inus would wish. We ask the Good Lord to make his presence felt to her in this particular time of grief, and bring her inner hope, gratitude, and the joy that comes with it for a life well-lived. Jean Luc
It is with great sadness that I learnt of the passing of Dr Daneel. Dr Daneel contributed immensely to the christian movement and he was the first person to do some in-depth research on African independent churches in Zimbabwe from within.He also helped many churches through the “Fambidzano” & ZIRRCON projects and we will remember him for all the great works that he did.
May his family find comfort in the Lord during this difficult period.
Professor Inus Daneel was a supreme gentleman and an excellent scholar. He was kind. He spoke with humor, and it was fun to be around him. It is sad that he is gone; but his legacy, contributions to the practice and study of African Christianity, will be cherished by generations to come. Africa has lost a living library in the death of Professor Daneel. I could not bring myself to write anything about his passing because the news of his death was too shocking to me—though I knew he had been sick for some time. The news of his passing cut into me in unexpected ways. He did everything to beat death, but the Lord Almighty knows best. We can now only celebrate the good life that he lived.
Nimi Wariboko
Boston University School of Theology
Inus Daneel was a formidable linguist; a bold, creative scholar; a man of great faith; and a romantic (in the very best sense of the word). Knowing Inus has made my life richer. I treasure memories of time spent with him and Dana. Rest in peace and rise in glory, shamwari yangu.
Dear Inus,
It was an honor meeting you and spending fun times listening to music, dancing and hearing heroic stories about your life-truly a legend!! Thank you for all the great memories and attending my wedding with your beautiful wife Dana.
Blessings,
The De La Torre Family
The world has lost a holy man, a soul of grit, rigor for justice with a good measure of biting humor. I will always treasure the vibrant lectures, lunches and visits. I appreciate his generosity of spirit, going beyond the extra mile for the potential of good. I am grateful calling him dear mentor and the godfather of my first born. Sympathies to Dana and the entire family.