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African Initiated Churches

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About the tradition

African Initiated (Independent or Indigenous) Churches are Christian churches founded in Africa by Africans — for example the Aladura churches of West Africa and the Zion Christian Church in Southern Africa.

A neutral summary for orientation. Gfluencers does not rank or compare Christian traditions.

Leaders of African Initiated Churches

Listed alphabetically by country.

Denominational President

Apostle Samuel Amponsah Frimpong

Ghana

  • Christian Leader
  • Apostle
  • Pentecostal
  • African Initiated Churches
Role:
Chairman, Christ Apostolic Church International
Organization:
Christ Apostolic Church International

Elected CACI chairman in March 2023

Pending editorial verification

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Denominational President

Archbishop Daniel Okoh

Nigeria

  • Christian Leader
  • Archbishop
  • African Initiated Churches
Role:
President, Christian Association of Nigeria; General Overseer, Christ Holy Church International
Organization:
Christian Association of Nigeria

First CAN president from the African Instituted Churches bloc

Pending editorial verification

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Denominational President

Pastor S.O. Oladele

Nigeria

  • Christian Leader
  • Pastor
  • African Initiated Churches
  • Pentecostal
Role:
President, Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide
Organization:
Christ Apostolic Church

Eighth president of Christ Apostolic Church (since 2021)

Pending editorial verification

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Archbishop

Primate Rufus Ositelu

Nigeria

  • Christian Leader
  • Primate
  • African Initiated Churches
Role:
Primate, The Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide
Organization:
The Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide

First WCC president from an African Instituted Church

Pending editorial verification

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Churches & ministries

All

Kimbanguist Church

DR CongoAfrican Initiated Churches

  • Church
  • Founded 1921 (movement); recognised as a church in 1959

Headquarters: Nkamba, Democratic Republic of the Congo

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Christ Apostolic Church

NigeriaAfrican Initiated Churches · Pentecostal

  • Denomination
  • Founded 1941

Leader: Pastor S.O. Oladele

Headquarters: Ibadan, Oyo State

Pending editorial verification

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Leaders by country

DR Congo

SKSimon Kimbangu Founder figure of the Kimbanguist Church · African Initiated Churches

Ghana

SAFApostle Samuel Amponsah Frimpong Chairman, Christ Apostolic Church International · Pentecostal

Nigeria

JABApostle Joseph Ayo Babalola Evangelist; spiritual leader of Christ Apostolic Church · African Initiated ChurchesDOArchbishop Daniel Okoh President, Christian Association of Nigeria; General Overseer, Christ Holy Church International · African Initiated ChurchesSOPastor S.O. Oladele President, Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide · African Initiated ChurchesROPrimate Rufus Ositelu Primate, The Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide · African Initiated ChurchesMOTSt Moses Orimolade Founder, Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim · African Initiated Churches

Historical figures

All historical leaders
Historical Christian Leader

Simon Kimbangu

DR Congo

  • Christian Leader
  • Prophet
  • African Initiated Churches
Role:
Founder figure of the Kimbanguist Church
Organization:
Kimbanguist Church

Pending editorial verification

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Historical Christian Leader

Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola

1904 – 1959

Nigeria

  • Christian Leader
  • Apostle (as publicly used)
  • African Initiated Churches
  • Pentecostal
Role:
Evangelist; spiritual leader of Christ Apostolic Church
Organization:
Christ Apostolic Church

Revivalist regarded by CAC as its spiritual father

Pending editorial verification

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Historical Christian Leader

St Moses Orimolade

Nigeria

  • Christian Leader
  • Founder
  • African Initiated Churches
Role:
Founder, Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim
Organization:
Cherubim and Seraphim Church

Founded the Cherubim and Seraphim movement in 1925

Pending editorial verification

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