The term "Aladura" means "praying person" in
Yoruba
The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...
. Aladura is a classification of indigenous churches in south-western Nigeria that started in the early 20th century. These churches believe in the efficacy of prayers and practical guidance by God through the Holy Spirit in all its programs.
The main Aladura churches can be distinguished by the distinct apostolic way, the church founders were called directly by Christ himself. Jesus Christ emphasized: ''my house shall be called the house of prayer.''
Aladura churches emphasize the power of prayer and the word of God (both the Bible and the living voice of God).
They believe in holiness. The yoruba term for this: is "ijo-mimo". Aladura churches are Evangelicals and various elements associated with
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestant Charismatic Christian movement can be found in Aladura churches.
Most of the pioneer founders in the early 20th century were initially
Anglicans
Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of the l ...
and
Methodist
Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's b ...
s. They rejected the power of traditional
African religion
The traditional beliefs and practices of African people are highly diverse beliefs that include various ethnic religions.Encyclopedia of African Religion (Sage, 2009) Molefi Kete Asante Generally, these traditions are oral rather than scriptural ...
as malign. They also opposed many dominant practices then such as: both
polygamy
Crimes
Polygamy (from Late Greek (') "state of marriage to many spouses") is the practice of marrying multiple spouses. When a man is married to more than one wife at the same time, sociologists call this polygyny. When a woman is married ...
and
witchcraft
Witchcraft traditionally means the use of magic or supernatural powers to harm others. A practitioner is a witch. In medieval and early modern Europe, where the term originated, accused witches were usually women who were believed to have us ...
and focus instead on the "holiness movement".
Today, many churches in Nigeria can be called "Aladura", since they have been influenced by this movement.
Divisions
The main Aladura churches with their founders are:
Pre-1960 Aladura
Some of the pre-1960s Aladura churches are also called "White Garment" churches.
Moses Orimolade,
*
Cherubim and Seraphim
''Inspector Morse'' is a British television crime drama, starring John Thaw and Kevin Whately
Kevin Whately (born 6 February 1951) is an English actor. He is best known for his roles as Neville "Nev" Hope in the British comedy drama '' Auf Wi ...
C&S
David O. Odunbanjo, Joseph Sadare, Oba Babalola Akinyele, Sophia Odunlami, and many others
*
The Apostolic Church of Nigeria TAC (initially'', Faith Terbanacle Church of Nigeria'')
Joseph A. Babalola,
*
Christ Apostolic Church Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) is the first Aladura Pentecostal church present in Nigeria and other countries. It arose in the first half of the 20th century, in the then-British empire. It was formally established in 1941 after a split from the Ap ...
CAC
SBJ Oschoffa,
*
Celestial Church of Christ
The Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) is a church founded in Africa by Samuel Oshoffa on 29 September 1947 in Porto-Novo, Benin. It is located in most countries worldwide including the United States and various countries in Africa.
History
Osho ...
CCC
Post-1960 Aladura
J.O. Akindayomi,
*
Redeemed Christian Church of God
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is a Pentecostal megachurch and denomination founded in Lagos, Nigeria. The General overseer (most senior pastor) is Enoch Adeboye, ordained in 1981. The church in Lagos had an average church attendanc ...
RCCG
W.F. Kumuyi
*
Deeper Life Bible Church DLBC
Post-2000 Aladura
Michael C. Egbo
* Kings Apostolic Christ Evangelical Mission KACEM
Pre-1960 Aladura
Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim
Moses Orimolade Tunolase
Moses Orimolade Tunolase is the founder of the first African initiated church, the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim, which was established in 1925. The church was born out of the Anglican church community among the Yoruba peopl ...
, who was later called Baba Aladura, or Praying Father, founded the
Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim
The Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim, also known as the esocs, is a church denomination in Nigeria that was founded by Moses Orimolade Tunolase in 1925. Orimolade received considerable media attention when he healed a girl, Christina A ...
in 1925, also as a prayer group within the Anglican Church. Captain Christiana Abiodun's adopted daughter fell into a trance and Moses Orimolade Tunolase, who was already an itinerant evangelist and teacher, was the only one who could awaken her. By 1925 they had left the Anglican church to become independent. Their most distinctive ministry was to openly identify and challenge witches on evangelistic journeys through the countryside. These long trips were typical of Cherubim and Seraphim (as they are most commonly called) evangelists and missionaries. Today the church is one of the most popular, most attractive and most influential of the Aladura churches worldwide.
The Apostolic Church and Christ Apostolic Church
The first Aladura movement emerged from St. Saviour's Anglican Church,
Ijebu-Ode
Ijebu-Ode is a town in Ogun State, Nigeria, South Western geopolitical zone in Nigeria, close to the A121 highway (Nigeria), A121 highway. The city is located 110 km by road north-east of Lagos; it is within of the Atlantic Ocean in the e ...
,
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
in 1918. The Sexton, Ali, related a dream to four church elders, J.B. Sadare, E.O. Onabanjo, D.C. Oduga and E.O.W. Olukoya. They started vigorous prayer sessions. They initiated the "Prayer Band", popularly called "Egbe Aladura". After D.O. Odubanjo joined the movement in 1919, they became influenced by the doctrines of the Faith Tabernacle of Philadelphia. They rejected
infant baptism
Infant baptism is the practice of baptising infants or young children. Infant baptism is also called christening by some faith traditions.
Most Christians belong to denominations that practice infant baptism. Branches of Christianity that ...
and all forms of medicine, whether western or traditional. This led to a doctrinal conflict with the
Anglican Church
Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of the ...
and they were forced out of the church. Joseph Sadare was compelled to give up his post in the Synod and others were forced to resign their jobs and to withdraw their children from the
Anglican School. The Aladura movement began as a renewal movement in search of true spirituality.
A revival took place in 1918 during the
influenza pandemic
An influenza pandemic is an epidemic of an influenza virus that spreads across a large region (either multiple continents or worldwide) and infects a large proportion of the population. There have been six major influenza epidemics in the last ...
. The group filled with the Holy Ghost claim to have used prayer to save many lives affected by the epidemic. This consolidated the prayer group. The movement grew gradually and formed branches throughout Nigeria. The name of the group went through several changes, such as Prayer Band, Precious Stone, Diamond Society, and Faith Tabernacle, in that order, until 1930. A great revival started in July 1930 by the
raising of a dead body by Apostle
Joseph Ayo Babalola
Joseph Ayo Babalola (25 April 1904 – 26 July 1959) was the first General Evangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church, popularly called CAC in Nigeria. He was credited with healing powers.
Early life
Babalola was born of Yoruba parents at Odo- ...
at Oke-Oye in
Ilesa
Ilesa () is an ancient town located in the Osun State, southwest Nigeria; it is also the name of a historic kingdom (also known as Ijesha) centred on that village. The state is ruled by a monarch bearing the title of the Owa Obokun Adimula of Ij ...
. People traveled from neighboring cities and countries to receive healing at Ilesa. Several people were healed through the power of prayer amid evidence of the
baptism of the Holy Spirit
In Christian theology, baptism with the Holy Spirit, also called baptism in the Holy Spirit or baptism in the Holy Ghost, has been interpreted by different Christian denominations and traditions in a variety of ways due to differences in the doc ...
. The revival lasted about 60 days and is regarded as the greatest revival ever in Nigeria. Faith Tabernacle of Nigeria later invited the Apostolic Church of England in 1931 to form an Association that lasted until 1939.
The Revival group went through additional name changes until, 24 years after its formation, it settled on the name Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in 1942. Today, CAC has spread worldwide and is the precursor of Aladura Pentecostal Churches in Nigeria. The Church established schools at all levels, including
Joseph Ayo Babalola University
The Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU) is a private Nigerian university located in Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State, Nigeria, established in 2004 by the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Worldwide. The university is named after the first Spiritual lead ...
.
[Abi Olowe, Babalola Miracle Center, Omega Publishers 2007]
Celestial Church of Christ
The
Celestial Church of Christ
The Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) is a church founded in Africa by Samuel Oshoffa on 29 September 1947 in Porto-Novo, Benin. It is located in most countries worldwide including the United States and various countries in Africa.
History
Osho ...
(usually known as Cele) was founded in 1947 by
Samuel Oshoffa in
Porto Novo
Porto-Novo (Portuguese: "New Port", , ; yo, Àjàṣẹ́, ), also known as Hogbonu and Ajashe, is the capital of Benin. The commune covers an area of and as of 2002 had a population of 223,552 people.
Situated on an inlet of the Gulf of G ...
,
Benin
Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the north ...
.
See also
*
Celestial Church of Christ
The Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) is a church founded in Africa by Samuel Oshoffa on 29 September 1947 in Porto-Novo, Benin. It is located in most countries worldwide including the United States and various countries in Africa.
History
Osho ...
*
Church of the Lord (Aladura)
The Church of the Lord (Aladura) is an African Initiated Church founded by Josiah Olunowo Ositelu in 1925, and inaugurated in 1930 in Ogere Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Ositelu was born on 15 May 1900 at Ogere, ?ijebu-Remo, Ogun State in Nigeria.
"A ...
*
Christ Apostolic Church Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) is the first Aladura Pentecostal church present in Nigeria and other countries. It arose in the first half of the 20th century, in the then-British empire. It was formally established in 1941 after a split from the Ap ...
*
African Initiated Church
An African-initiated church (AIC) is a Christian church independently started in Africa by Africans rather than chiefly by missionaries from another continent.
Nomenclature
A variety of overlapping terms exist for these forms of Christianity: Af ...
References
{{Religion topics
African initiated churches
Christianity in Nigeria
Pentecostalism in Africa
Religious organizations established in the 1920s
Christian new religious movements
1918 establishments in Nigeria