Abstract: | Some of the most prominent expressions of Christianity in sub-Saharan Africa may be called 'African Pentecostal' churches. This term refers to African churches that emphasize the working of the Spirit in the church, particularly with ecstatic phenomena like prophecy and speaking in tongues, healing and exorcism. These phenomena are widespread in Africa across a great variety of Christian churches, including thousands of African Initiated Churches (AICs) known collectively by different names like 'prophet-healing' and 'Spirit' or 'spiritual' churches. They include 'Zionists' and 'Apostles' in southern Africa, 'spiritual', 'prayer healing' or 'Aladura' (prayer) churches in western Africa and 'spiritual' or 'Holy Spirit' churches in eastern Africa. The term 'African Pentecostal' also includes two other types of churches: those of Western 'classical' Pentecostal origin and New Independent Pentecostal or Charismatic churches (NPCs). This paper discusses these Pentecostal churches according to region. Attention is paid also to the 'export' of this new form of African Christianity to other countries, especially Europe and North America, and to NPCs, which have only sprung up since the 1970s. Notes, ref. [ASC Leiden abstract] |