The African Independent Churches and Spirit Healing in South Africa

Record summary

Interwar South African studies and mission reports document African independent churches in which prophecy, healing, visions, dreams and spirit-mediated authority were publicly practiced. The lead is a research cluster rather than one alleged incident, and should be narrowed to a named congregation, founder or report. It matters because it permits comparison of altered states with colonial medicine, racial segregation and Christian ritual innovation. Researchers must avoid treating “African independent church” as a single tradition and should identify the exact publication and congregation before extracting a case.