ABSTRACT
The scope of this chapter extends before and beyond the nineteenth century to tie together seemingly disparate events and historical eras. The historical presence of Christianity in Africa, dating back to antiquity, served as the foundation for establishing the practices of the faith and promoting its values and beliefs. Positioning the history of Christianity in Africa as beginning with the arrival of missionaries a few centuries prior selectively disregards the historical incidence of the first millennium, which possesses valuable passed-on information and contains building blocks upon which the relatively recent Christian history hinges. Christianity in Africa began in Alexandria, which attests to its historical significance, and although the adherents in the city were only a small minority, they were located in the melting pot of Africa where the religion was freely circulating. It is imperative to understand that Alexandria was geographically important in the Mediterranean world, as it was considered instrumental for spiritual and economic growth, though the presence of the minority group of Christians in the city did not guarantee the spread of Christianity. This chapter will highlight how Christianity came into West Africa, tracing it from the precolonial days to Pentecostalism in contemporary times. The impact of religion on education, health, and the economy will also be discussed.
