Re-Creation of Africa Phenomenon: Paul Mwazha and the Apostolic Movement in Zimbabwe from the 1920s To 2025

Abstract

The article examines the life of Paul Mwazha (1918-2025) and the African Apostolic Church (AAC) as a paradigmatic case study within the African Initiated Church (AIC) movement. Spanning from the colonial era to the 21st century, Mwazha’s ministry epitomised the project of “re-creating Africa” a synthesis of biblical Christianity with African worldviews to address spiritual, social, and political dislocations. Utilising a historical-theological methodology within a framework of indigenisation theory, the analysis explores how Mwazha’s theological innovations, particularly regarding ancestry, healing, and prophetic leadership, facilitated a culturally resonant Christianity much more appealing to indigenous communities. The article argues that the AAC’s endurance and growth underscore the AIC movement’s central role in the decolonisation of African Christianity, asserting its legacy as a fundamental reformation of the faith on the continent.