Pentecostalism and Politics in Africa

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xix

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2. Introduction

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Introduction: The Pentecostal and the Political in Africa

      • Adeshina Afolayan, Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso, Toyin Falola

      Pages 3-23

   3. Explaining the Growth and Legitimation of the Pentecostal Movement in Africa

      • Olufunke Adeboye

      Pages 25-39

3. Pentecostalism and Society in Africa

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 41-41

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   2. Pentecostalism, Islam, and Religious Fundamentalism in Africa

      • Marinus Chijioke Iwuchukwu

      Pages 43-63

   3. Buy the Future: Charismatic Pentecostalism and African Liberation in a Neoliberal World

      • Marleen de Witte

      Pages 65-85

   4. When Pentecostalism Meets African Indigenous Religions: Conflict, Compromise, or Incorporation?

      • Naar M’fundisi-Holloway

      Pages 87-100

   5. Pentecostal Panopticism and the Phantasm of “The Ultimate Power”

      • Abimbola Adelakun

      Pages 101-118

   6. The Pentecostal and Ecumenical Movements in the African Context

      • Ernst M. Conradie

      Pages 119-135

   7. Pentecostalism, the Prosperity Gospel, and Poverty in Africa

      • Samson O. Ijaola

      Pages 137-158

   8. Soft Tongue, Powerful Voice, Huge Influence: The Dynamics of Gender, Soft Power, and Political Influence in Faith Evangelistic Ministries in Kenya

      • Damaris Seleina Parsitau

      Pages 159-180

   9. The Role of Women, Theology, and Ecumenical Organizations in the Rise of Pentecostal Churches in Botswana

      • Fidelis Nkomazana

      Pages 181-202

   10. Neither Jew nor Greek? Class, Ethnicity, and Race in the Pentecostal Movement in Africa

       • Asonzeh Ukah

       Pages 203-219

4. Pentecostalism and/as Politics in Africa

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 221-221

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   2. Pentecostalism, Political Philosophy, and the Political in Africa

      • Adeshina Afolayan

      Pages 223-244

   3. Political Ramifications of Some Shifts in Nigeria’s Pentecostal Movement

      • Femi James Kolapo

      Pages 245-275

   4. Pentecostalism as an Alternative Social Order in Africa

      • Samuel Zalanga

      Pages 277-302

   5. Pentecostals, Conflict, and Peace in Africa

      • Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso, Rachael O. Iyanda

      Pages 303-319

   6. Leadership and Power in the Pentecostal Movement: Selected Case Studies

      • Afolarin Olutunde Ojewole, Efe Monday Ehioghae

      Pages 321-341

As the epicenter of Christianity has shifted towards Africa in recent decades, Pentecostalism has emerged as a particularly vibrant presence on the continent. This collection of essays offers a groundbreaking study of the complex links between politics and African Pentecostalism. Situated at the intersection between the political, the postcolonial, and global neoliberal capitalism, contributors examine the roots of the Pentecostal movement’s extraordinary growth; how Pentecostalism intervenes in key social and political issues, such as citizenship, party politics, development challenges, and identity; and conversely, how politics in Africa modulate the Pentecostal movement. Pentecostalism and Politics in Africa offers a wide-ranging picture of a central dimension of postcolonial African life, opening up new directions for future research.

• Pentecostalism in Africa
• Pentecostalism in Nigeria
• Pentecostal movement in Africa
• political spirituality
• Pentecostal theology
• Christianity in Africa
• postcolonial development in Africa
• Religious fundamentalism
• Faith Evangelistic Ministries
• Pentecostal Panopticism
• Pentecostal Political Philosophy
• global Pentecostalism
• African traditional religions
• William Seymour
• ecumenism
• inter-faith dialogue
• neoliberalism
• African Traditional Religions
• prosperity gospel

“This remarkable collection of nineteen essays aims at widening perspectives on the socio-political profiles of the Pentecostal movement in sub-Saharan Africa. … The editors have put together a strong palimpsest of case-studies on Pentecostal notions and practices of politics placing the theme centre-stage in further Pentecostal studies and making it a useful reference source.” (Andreas Heuser, PentecoStudies, Vol. 19 (2), 2020)

“This collection of essays from a range of world-class contributors ranks among the most well-written books on this topic. Setting a new agenda for research on African Pentecostalism, it should be cited by scholars for years and decades to come.” (Amadu Jacky Kaba, Professor of Sociology, Seton Hall University, USA)

“This book is among the most brilliant works on the subject that I have read in recent years. In this modern world of religious plurality, the challenge and clarion call of African Pentecostalism is to take our religions seriously as an opportunity for the transformation of civil society. These essays offer essential new perspectives for how African Pentecostalism may do just that.” (Caleb O. Oladipo, Snellings Chair of Christian Evangelism and Missions and Director of the George W. and Joan O. Braswell World Religions and Global Cultures Center, Campbell University Divinity School, USA)

• University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

  Adeshina Afolayan

• Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Nigeria

  Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso

• University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA

  Toyin Falola

Adeshina Afolayan teaches philosophy at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.


Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso is Associate Professor of Political Science at Babcock University, Nigeria.


Toyin Falola is the Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair Professor in the Humanities and Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Texas at Austin, USA.

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