WATCH LIVE as Gambakwe unpacks the significant role played by Charles Manamela in the formation of the AFM:
Core Narrative: A struggle between a missionary-founded, structured church (the Trinitarian Apostolic Faith Mission) and emerging indigenous movements seeking spiritual authority, cultural relevance, and racial autonomy.
Phase 1: Foundation & First Schism (1915–1920s)
- The Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) was established in 1915 by South African missionaries with a segregated structure.
- The first major split came in 1925, led by Edward Mabhuyani, primarily over the rejection of the Trinity in favor of “Jesus Only” (Oneness) theology. This doctrine, popularized in South Africa by John G. Lake, served as both a theological and cultural rallying point against missionary control.
- The catalyst was Charles Manamela, an independent healing evangelist (c. 1924–27). His revivals drained the AFM of members and provided a mass following for indigenous leaders like Mabhuyani and James Chikonamombe, who founded the Zvishamiso Zion Apostolic Church.
Phase 2: Indigenous Consolidation (1920s–1930s)
Two major, enduring indigenous traditions emerged from the Pentecostal awakening:
- Bishop Samuel Mutendi built the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) into a large, hierarchical institution with a strong cultural base.
- Prophet Johane Masowe founded the Masowe Apostles, an ascetic, itinerant movement that rejected church buildings, emphasizing prophecy, purity, and craftsmanship.
Phase 3: Internal Fragmentation
Schism continued within the new indigenous churches themselves. For example, Bishop T.L. Mugodhi left the Zion Apostolic Church in 1962 to found his own church after a leadership dispute.
Parallel Stream: AFM’s Internal Struggle
While indigenous churches broke away completely, the AFM faced its own internal racial conflicts:
- The “Mwana” Dispute (1940s–1955): African leaders like Steven Kundishora demanded autonomy and financial control. Their expulsion led to the separate Apostolic Faith Mission (Mwana).
- The “New Deal” (1959): To prevent further splits, the AFM granted partial autonomy to an African Conference led by figures like Abel Sande and G.N.S. Makoni, a step toward full non-racial unification in 1997.
Legacy: The early Pentecostal landscape was forged by a double movement: 1) clean breaks from the missionary AFM leading to vast indigenous Apostolic/Zionist churches (Vapostori), and 2) a protracted internal struggle for reform within the AFM itself. Disputes over doctrine (Oneness vs. Trinity) were deeply intertwined with conflicts over who controlled spiritual authority and cultural expression.
William J. Seymour (Azusa St, USA)
➡️ Inspires via newspaper Thomas Ball Barratt (Norway)
➡️ Barratt’s revival creates the Norwegian Pentecostal movement
➡️ John G. Lake recruits Norwegians for South Africa
➡️ Norwegian missionaries (e.g., Lars Nilssen) help lead the AFM of South Africa
➡️ The South African AFM sends missionaries (the Burgers) to Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) in 1915.
- The Zionist/Healing Lineage (often called Zion):
- Zion Apostolic Church (ZAC) – Founded by Edward Mabhuyani (1925). This was the first major schism from the AFM. A “Jesus Only” (Oneness) church. Many later churches, like Mugodhi’s, are offshoots of this.
- Zvishamiso Zion Apostolic Church – Founded by James “Jerkinishoni” Chikonamombe (mid-1920s). Famous for its powerful healing (zvishamiso) rituals and holy water. A parallel Oneness breakaway from the AFM.
- Zion Christian Church (ZCC) – Founded by Bishop Samuel Mutendi (from late 1920s). The largest and most organized. It blended Pentecostal power, Zionist symbols (star, uniforms), and deep cultural roots. Note: Mutendi was not directly from the AFM but from the Dutch Reformed Church, influenced by the general Pentecostal awakening (like Manamela’s revivals).
- The Apostolic/Itinerant Lineage (often called Apostolic or Mapostori):
- The Masowe Apostles (Johane Masowe Chishanu) – Founded by Prophet Johane Masowe (Shonhiwa Masedza) in 1932. This is the oldest and most distinct “Apostolic” tradition. They reject church buildings, are itinerant, emphasize prophecy, asceticism, and skilled craftsmanship. They are the “white-robed” apostles seen worshipping in open spaces.
Other Major Early “New African Churches” (Pre-Independence):
The movement fragmented rapidly. Other significant early churches include:
- Apostolic Faith Mission (Mwana) – Formed in 1955 by Steven Kundishora and others after their expulsion from the white-led AFM. While it kept the “AFM” name, it was a fully autonomous African church born from the internal autonomy struggle.
- Apostolic Sabbath Church of God – Founded by Bishop Paul Mwazha in the 1950s. A unique blend of Pentecostal holiness, Old Testament law (Sabbath-keeping, dietary codes), and prophetic leadership. It has grown into a very large transnational church.
- Mugodhi Apostolic Church – Founded in 1962 by Bishop T. L. Mugodhi after a succession dispute in Mabhuyani’s ZAC. A classic example of secondary fragmentation within the indigenous movement itself.
- African Apostolic Church (AAC) – This is a complex family of churches often tracing authority to Bishop Paul Mwazha or other early apostles. The term is sometimes used generically.
Important Distinction: “Spirit-Type” vs. “Ethiopian-Type”
The churches above are all “Spirit-Type” (or “Zionist/Apostolic”) churches, characterized by:
- Pentecostal experiences (healing, prophecy, dreams)
- Distinctive uniforms (white robes, sashes, staffs)
- Use of symbolic objects (staffs, holy water, cords)
- Syncretic adaptation of African cosmology.
They are different from the older “Ethiopian-Type” or “African Independent Churches” (AICs) that emerged earlier. The Ethiopian-type churches (like those started by Matthew Zwimba in the 1910s) were protest secessions from mission churches (Methodist, Anglican) focused primarily on racial self-government and cultural dignity, not on Pentecostal Spirit-empowerment. The Spirit-type churches were generally more revolutionary in their religious practice.
Summary Table of Key New African Churches (Early Founders)
| Church / Movement | Founder(s) | Era Founded | Core Characteristic |
| Zion Apostolic Church (ZAC) | Edward Mabhuyani | 1925 | First major AFM schism; Oneness theology. |
| Zvishamiso Zion Apostolic Church | James “Jerkinishoni” Chikonamombe | mid-1920s | Powerful healing (zvishamiso) focus. |
| Zion Christian Church (ZCC) | Bishop Samuel Mutendi | late 1920s | Largest institutional Zionist church. |
| Masowe Apostles | Prophet Johane Masowe | 1932 | Itinerant, ascetic, reject buildings. |
| Apostolic Faith Mission (Mwana) | Steven Kundishora, Petros Mupfurutsa | 1955 | Autonomy split from missionary AFM. |
| Apostolic Sabbath Church of God | Bishop Paul Mwazha | 1950s | Pentecostal + Old Testament law (Sabbath). |
| Mugodhi Apostolic Church | Bishop T. L. Mugodhi | 1962 | Schism from the ZAC (Mabhuyani’s church). |
William J. Seymour (Azusa St, USA)
➡️ Inspires via newspaper Thomas Ball Barratt (Norway)
➡️ Barratt’s revival creates the Norwegian Pentecostal movement
➡️ John G. Lake recruits Norwegians for South Africa
➡️ Norwegian missionaries (e.g., Lars Nilssen) help lead the AFM of South Africa
➡️ The South African AFM sends missionaries (the Burgers) to Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) in 1915.
- The Zionist/Healing Lineage (often called Zion):
- Zion Apostolic Church (ZAC) – Founded by Edward Mabhuyani (1925). This was the first major schism from the AFM. A “Jesus Only” (Oneness) church. Many later churches, like Mugodhi’s, are offshoots of this.
- Zvishamiso Zion Apostolic Church – Founded by James “Jerkinishoni” Chikonamombe (mid-1920s). Famous for its powerful healing (zvishamiso) rituals and holy water. A parallel Oneness breakaway from the AFM.
- Zion Christian Church (ZCC) – Founded by Bishop Samuel Mutendi (from late 1920s). The largest and most organized. It blended Pentecostal power, Zionist symbols (star, uniforms), and deep cultural roots. Note: Mutendi was not directly from the AFM but from the Dutch Reformed Church, influenced by the general Pentecostal awakening (like Manamela’s revivals).
- The Apostolic/Itinerant Lineage (often called Apostolic or Mapostori):
- The Masowe Apostles (Johane Masowe Chishanu) – Founded by Prophet Johane Masowe (Shonhiwa Masedza) in 1932. This is the oldest and most distinct “Apostolic” tradition. They reject church buildings, are itinerant, emphasize prophecy, asceticism, and skilled craftsmanship. They are the “white-robed” apostles seen worshipping in open spaces.
Other Major Early “New African Churches” (Pre-Independence):
The movement fragmented rapidly. Other significant early churches include:
- Apostolic Faith Mission (Mwana) – Formed in 1955 by Steven Kundishora and others after their expulsion from the white-led AFM. While it kept the “AFM” name, it was a fully autonomous African church born from the internal autonomy struggle.
- Apostolic Sabbath Church of God – Founded by Bishop Paul Mwazha in the 1950s. A unique blend of Pentecostal holiness, Old Testament law (Sabbath-keeping, dietary codes), and prophetic leadership. It has grown into a very large transnational church.
- Mugodhi Apostolic Church – Founded in 1962 by Bishop T. L. Mugodhi after a succession dispute in Mabhuyani’s ZAC. A classic example of secondary fragmentation within the indigenous movement itself.
- African Apostolic Church (AAC) – This is a complex family of churches often tracing authority to Bishop Paul Mwazha or other early apostles. The term is sometimes used generically.
Important Distinction: “Spirit-Type” vs. “Ethiopian-Type”
The churches above are all “Spirit-Type” (or “Zionist/Apostolic”) churches, characterized by:
- Pentecostal experiences (healing, prophecy, dreams)
- Distinctive uniforms (white robes, sashes, staffs)
- Use of symbolic objects (staffs, holy water, cords)
- Syncretic adaptation of African cosmology.
They are different from the older “Ethiopian-Type” or “African Independent Churches” (AICs) that emerged earlier. The Ethiopian-type churches (like those started by Matthew Zwimba in the 1910s) were protest secessions from mission churches (Methodist, Anglican) focused primarily on racial self-government and cultural dignity, not on Pentecostal Spirit-empowerment. The Spirit-type churches were generally more revolutionary in their religious practice.
Summary Table of Key New African Churches (Early Founders)
| Church / Movement | Founder(s) | Era Founded | Core Characteristic |
| Zion Apostolic Church (ZAC) | Edward Mabhuyani | 1925 | First major AFM schism; Oneness theology. |
| Zvishamiso Zion Apostolic Church | James “Jerkinishoni” Chikonamombe | mid-1920s | Powerful healing (zvishamiso) focus. |
| Zion Christian Church (ZCC) | Bishop Samuel Mutendi | late 1920s | Largest institutional Zionist church. |
| Masowe Apostles | Prophet Johane Masowe | 1932 | Itinerant, ascetic, reject buildings. |
| Apostolic Faith Mission (Mwana) | Steven Kundishora, Petros Mupfurutsa | 1955 | Autonomy split from missionary AFM. |
| Apostolic Sabbath Church of God | Bishop Paul Mwazha | 1950s | Pentecostal + Old Testament law (Sabbath). |
| Mugodhi Apostolic Church | Bishop T. L. Mugodhi | 1962 | Schism from the ZAC (Mabhuyani’s church). |
