Christianism: Catholicism, Protestantism, Afri-Christian Churches

Soon after its appearance, Christianity penetrated Nubia and Aksum. After the North-East of Africa became separated from the rest of the Christian world by a powerful Muslim wave, Christian states existed in the mid-stream of the Nile River until the 16th century, and in Ethiopia the “Kingdom of Prester John” survived through all attacks of the enemies and has preserved its faith till our days.

Catholic missionaries came to the Atlantic coast of Africa together with Portuguese sea-farers in the 15th – 16th centuries. At first they were very successful: following the ruler of Congo Nzingo Bemba, proclaimed Alfonzo I, the whole country was converted to Christianity. Missionaries also met a warm welcome in Benin.

The epoch of slave trading put an end to the advancing of Christianity: a war of everyone against everyone rapidly spread from this coast to the inner regions of the continent, and missionaries were replaced with caravans of pitiless hunters for live goods.

Only in the end of the 18th – 19th centuries, when European countries began to fight against slave-trading, the missionaries were able to revive their activity. At that time, however, Protestants of different denominations competed with Catholics. Those who claim that the missionaries paved the way for colonial conquests are right to some extent. However, they should not be viewed as colonizers’ agents. From the very beginning the church bore the burden of education, health care, and in the conflicts between the colonial authorities and the local population it often took the side of the people and incurred the anger of the officials.

After it had stroke roots on the African continent, the church quickly adapted to the African realities. Numerous Afro-Christian churches emerged that interpreted the doctrine in their own ways and combined Christian rituals with the traditional cults. Even a Catholic service in Africa, not to mention a Protestant one, cannot do without drum-rolls and inspiring singing of psalms that just makes you want to dance.

Service in a protestant church.  Cote d'Ivoire. Ye. V. Perehvalskaya. 2007.		Holiday. Priest makes a tour of the ward with songs and dances.  Ethiopia. The Amhara. V. Semenova. 2007.		Greek orthodox temple in Bujumbura. The Orthodox Church has no missionary activities in Africa, for which reason the parish is very small. Bujumbura, Perekhvalskaya E., 2004.
The Mission to the World. A postcard from a Catholic bookstore. Kinshasa, 2004		The Three Wise Men. A postcard from a Catholic bookstore. Kinshasa, 2004		The Flight into Egypt. A postcard from a Catholic bookstore. Kinshasa, 2004
The world-biggest Catholic cathedral. Yamoussoukro, Perekhvalskaya E., 2004		An altar of an afro-christian church. Luanda, Perekhvalskaya E.