ABSTRACT
Kimbanguism has its beginnings in the early 1920s in the Belgian Congo. This movement is named for Simon Kimbangu, a Baptist Catechist, who at the time was resisting the Belgian colonial order as he preached to and sought to heal the local population. The prophet could speak only for six months until he was jailed for life. Yet, since 1959—the date of its official recognition by the Belgian authorities—the movement has developed into one of the main African-initiated churches, with an estimated membership of 17 million worldwide. The Kimbanguist church is also recognized by the World Council of Christian churches since 1969, but most of its members display beliefs that are specific to this religion.
