Analysis and Critique of Traditional Explanations of African Indipendency : a case study of the Eternity Worship Centre, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

In the last two decades a new phenomenon has occurred within African Christianity. There has been a proliferation of new religious groups, churches and ministries which for the most part have seceded from the classical African Initiated Churches or among themselves. These movements arose in the wake of the collapsed economic and political systems in the decade of the 1980s. The failure of nationstates created massive disillusionment which resulted in many Africans turning to these popular religions as a place believed to give full participation and satisfaction. This present work attempts to tell the story of the Eternity Worship Centre as an example ofthis new phenomenon by utilizing oral history, relying heavily on the memories of the founding members. It aims at analyzing and critiquing the traditional explanations of African independency which states that Africa Initiated Churches emerged as a result of revolting against legitimate missionary leadership. The first chapter/ introduction state the purpose, significance and methodology of this task and review some of the relevant literature. The next four chapters tell the story of the Eternity Worship Centre and its secession from the Rhema Fellowship. The second chapter briefly traces the background of Christianity in Africa as well as the rise and traditional explanations of African independency. Chapter three mainly focus on the rise of the new phenomenon (popular religion) in Africa in the decade of the 1980s and concluded with the history of Rhema Fellowship and the birth of Eternity Worship Centre. Chapter four highlights the analysis and influences on the Eternity Worship Centre by different religious forces. Chapter five takes a careful look at the factors which were responsible for the secession of Eternity Worship Centre from the Rhema Fellowship. The thesis concluded with lessons, recommendations, and future of the new phenomenon in Africa in Chapter six.