What Africa Needs Saving From

by Kilian SC · October 1, 2017

Kelvin Banda OP – In many churches, congregations sing the hymn “Africa Will Be Saved” — and as the African continent laments countless tragedies, problems and forms of suffering which affect the everyday lives of people, it sounds good to sing that Africa will be saved.

Imagine, dream and feel how Africa should be: free from corruption, gender bias and violence, human trafficking, racism, tribalism, political and economic injustices, diseases, pornography, envy and many of the evils that prevent Africa from being a garden continent where peace and harmony can flow.

History of ‘Africa Will Be Saved Hymn’

“Africa Will Be Saved” was composed when Africa was colonised. It was a political song and was primarily sung against the colonial masters who oppressed Africa and the African people. Africa needed freedom. Africa and its people longed for a time of tranquillity.

In many churches the hymn is sung either before, during or at the end of a homily. It is also sung even at some Christian or political gatherings where serious issues regarding the development of Africa are discussed.

But the questions that arise are: Have Africa and its people not been saved yet? Does Africa need to be re-saved again? Is Africa still waiting for the Holy Spirit? If this is the case, what was the principle of Pentecost?

When some people sing this song, is it because they are in a grieving moment and wish to be saved from such a grievance? Or is it being sung to ask God to renew the Holy Spirit in Africa and all who dwell in it?

Most importantly, what is it that Africa needs to be saved from today?

But Africa is Already Saved By God

I believe that people need to read the signs of the times to which the song can be sung, and not to generalise it.

Africa is a continent full of opportunities. It is no longer a “dark continent” in need of salvation. Africa Will Be Saved” needs to be sung not as a plea for miraculous divine intervention but as a statement of intent to uproot the evils that are hurting Africa

To continue singing that the “Holy Spirit must come down, then Africa will be saved” suggests that Africa has not yet been saved and that the Holy Spirit is not within and in Africa. It means that Africa is waiting for a particular Messiah or Saviour to come and save it.

“Africa Will Be Saved” must be sung to ring a bell in the ears and hearts of those African leaders who after their election forget their promises of service to Africa and the African people and concentrate on enriching themselves.

Both political and Church leaders need to revisit the first premise of fighting against colonial masters — freedom. Some of our first African presidents who fought for the independence of Africa had a vision for Africa. It was a vision of great service, of reconciliation and of unity among the people of Africa — the spirit of ubuntu. Where has the spirit of ubuntu gone?

It Needs Saving From Bad Leaders

Africa as a continent is already saved. What we need to be saved from are those African leaders who exploit African resources at the expense of African people.

Many African people remain in misery and great poverty due to greed and exploitation from our own leaders. Some of those who helped to fight against exploitation and oppression of the colonial masters are now the ones who are colonising Africa again.

Such individuals do not care about the suffering of others — their selfishness needs to be uprooted and they need to be saved.

This includes some prominent Church leaders. Some have become so greedy, corrupt and stiff-necked that they do not listen to the plea of the needy.

These are the injustices from which the people need to be saved.

If we Africans cannot unite and stop being corrupt and unjust to one another, then “Africa Will Be Saved”, with its hopeful future tense, shall continue to be sung into perpetuity until Christ comes again.

Africans Can Save Africa

It is only Africans who can save Africa from terrible, oppressive regimes. No outsider will come to save Africa on our behalf while we remain silent, biased and corrupt in many ways.

It is the moral responsibility of Africans to work towards saving Africa. No Messiah or Holy Spirit will come to fix Africa. Africa can be saved only when African people change their mind-sets and develop African unity.

Africa needs leaders who can act without fear. “Africa Will Be Saved” needs to be sung not as a plea for miraculous divine intervention but as a statement of intent to uproot the evils that are hurting Africa.