The spread of Protestantism in tropical Africa began en masse in the second half of the 19th century, aided by European colonization of Africa and the invention of a cure for malaria. Protestantism initially spread through missionary schools, but later it succeeded due to the increased number of native missionaries and the Africanization of Christianity. During the 20th and early 21st centuries, Protestants grew sevenfold to 29%, with the fastest growth of Protestant churches in the first decades after African independence. Pentecostal churches were the most successful, growing rapidly until the end of the 20th century. In several countries, rulers attempted to unify traditional religions and support them, but this was not a significant success, although much of the spiritual world has continued in the form of belief in the influence of witchcraft on human life.
|
