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Pluralism, Racism and Xenophobia: The colonial and missionary legacy and conflict in post-colonial Africa

"Africa Day,” celebrated 25 May since 1963, marks the launch of the Organisation of African Unity, the predecessor of the African Union, a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African continent. As conflict, poverty, and low standards of living for the majority of the populations are daily experiences, this webinar will examine the hope brought in increased faith-based activities.

The partition of Africa into pockets of territories for colonising empires and the further division of communities into pockets of territories for competing religious groups have all played a central role in creating and sustaining fracture lines on the continent. The partitioning was a racist activity that sought to plant the white supremacist ideology, creating a culture of whiteness assuring white privilege for the colonisers, missionaries and their allies. Resolving the conflicts on the continent is not the duty of politicians alone; churches need to be involved.

This webinar seeks to learn the reality and manifestations of conflict in different parts of the continent; and diagnose and identify connecting lines between the present and colonial-missionary legacy, especially the seeming persistence of racism in different forms from those of the colonial era.

Participants will be challenged to propose a framework of engagement on how the WCC member churches can be involved in conflict resolution in different countries and advance further discussions on conflict management and resolution in Africa.

May 24, 2022 02:00 PM in Zurich