A Cry for Unity: Healing the Colonial Divide and Uniting the Catholic Church in Africa

By James Katende – Africa is not a fractured continent—it is a wounded one. And the Catholic Church, the body of Christ within her borders, bears both the scars and the responsibility to heal.

For centuries, colonialism tore through Africa’s soul, dividing her languages, her cultures, and yes—her churches. Borders were drawn not by tribes or faith, but by imperial power. And though the missionaries came with the Gospel, they also arrived through systems entangled with control. But that era is not our master. Christ is. Now is the time for the Catholic Church across the African continent to rise above the ashes of division and reclaim her identity—not as a colony of the past, but as a Kingdom of God on African soil. The time for survival is over. The time for unity has come. Let every bishop, priest, religious, and lay leader hear this call: Africa must stand together, or Africa will fall apart.

The wounds of colonialism—language barriers, regional pride, ethnic suspicion, economic disparity, and liturgical confusion—must not be ignored. But they must not be worshipped either. We must confront them, yes. But we must also transcend them. For our unity is not found in uniformity. It is found in Christ alone. Africa is a continent of fire—spiritual passion, vibrant worship, rich tradition, and deep sacrifice. From Nigeria to Kenya, from South Africa to the DRC, from Ghana to Ethiopia, the same Spirit is moving. The same blood of martyrs cries from the soil. The same Christ is lifted in the Eucharist. The same Gospel is proclaimed. And yet, the walls remain—built by man, inherited from empire, and maintained by fear. But if the Spirit is one, how can we remain divided? The Church must no longer mirror the colonial map. It must tear it up. We must see one another not as West African, East African, Francophone, Lusophone, or Anglophone Catholics—but as brothers and sisters in Christ. Our allegiance is not to colonial languages, but to the cross. Our history does not end in occupation—it begins again in resurrection. To unite the Catholic Church in Africa, we must rediscover who we are.

There must be repentance. Deep, honest, painful repentance. The Catholic Church must confess where it has bowed to colonial power structures, silenced indigenous voices, and favoured certain tribes or regions over others. The time for hiding behind the veil of tradition is over. Truth must speak. Light must shine. Leaders must acknowledge the pain that lingers in many dioceses, where favouritism, language barriers, and inherited injustice still cast shadows. But we do not stop at repentance. We rebuild. We train young seminarians to speak multiple African languages—not just Latin or European tongues. We promote clergy who have the heart to unify—not the ego to divide. We encourage cross-border missions between dioceses in different countries. We challenge every national bishops’ conference to sit with its neighbours and dream of an African Church that moves together. Unity is built with vision and humility. And we need both. What unites the Catholic Church in Africa is far greater than what divides it. We are the continent of martyrdom and miracles. Of ancient faith and youthful fire. We are the land where Mary has been seen, where saints have walked, and where hope has refused to die. We must reclaim our identity—not as churches influenced by colonisers—but as a continental Church carrying the future of global Catholicism. Our parishes are full. Our vocations are rising. Our families are strong. The time has come to walk in our God-given identity—not with pride, but with purpose. We must tell our children the truth: Yes, colonialism wounded the Church. But Christ is healing it.

Let the African Church no longer be a mirror of Europe or the shadow of empire. Let it become the reflection of Christ in African skin, African languages, African rhythms, and African wisdom. Colonialism brought liturgical expression through European lenses. In many parts of Africa, language was imposed, local music suppressed, and indigenous leadership delayed. But today, we must embrace a liturgical expression that speaks to the soul of the African people—without losing the richness of Catholic doctrine. Unity will come when the Mass feels like home across the continent—not because it’s identical everywhere, but because it is deeply incarnational. The Church must invest in liturgical inculturation that honours the local without diluting the universal. Let the drum speak. Let the choir sing in Xhosa, Swahili, Yoruba, Shona, Afrikaans, Amharic, and Zulu and other African languages. Let the homily address local struggles with prophetic fire. Let the Eucharist be a table of unity, not a battleground of tradition. If the Mass unites heaven and earth, it can surely unite Africa.

Much of the division in the Church arises when leadership is hoarded, not shared. The colonial spirit operates through control, exclusion, and superiority. But the Spirit of God operates through service, inclusion, and humility. African bishops and cardinals must lead with a continental vision. We need leaders who speak for the whole of Africa—not just their region. We need councils, synods, and gatherings where the vision for unity is forged in prayer and strategy—not in rhetoric. Let there be African solutions to African Church challenges. Let our theological institutions collaborate across borders. Let our religious orders send missionaries within Africa as often as they send them beyond. Let the Church invest in digital platforms, conferences, and media that amplify unity—not competition. It is time to stop waiting for Rome to tell us how to walk together. We must walk—together. Now.

Africa’s youth are not burdened by the same colonial memory. Many of them are hungry for authenticity, connection, and action. They are the key to unity. The Church must equip young leaders who think continentally. Who are rooted in the Gospel and not tribalism. Who use technology, creativity, and faith to build a united voice for Christ. Let every diocese invest in youth movements that reach beyond national boundaries. Let social media, music, mission trips, and conferences become tools for awakening a new generation of African Catholics who see themselves as one body. Unity will not come through senior clergy alone. It will come through young people burning with a vision that is bigger than any one culture, country, or tradition. Religious orders have long been the backbone of Catholic unity—crossing borders, serving in silence, and building bridges through schools, clinics, and communities. Their witness must now become the engine of a unified African Church. Let Jesuits, Franciscans, Dominicans, Benedictines, and others lead inter-African initiatives that heal division and embody unity. Let sisters, brothers, and fathers mentor local leaders. Let there be African-founded orders that serve across the continent. Let their lives of poverty, chastity, and obedience become symbols of a Church no longer tied to empire, but bound to Christ. It is time for a Pan-African Synod—not just a Vatican event, but a Spirit-led continental gathering, hosted on African soil, with African voices leading the dialogue. A gathering that does not just reflect, but acts. That does not just discuss, but decides. Let this synod be the spark of a new era. An era of humility. An era of courage. An era of African Catholic unity. Let every diocese, mission, and congregation prepare their hearts—not just for talk, but for transformation.

In the end, unity is not a project—it is a person. His name is Jesus Christ. And He is not divided. If we are truly His body, we will not remain broken. If we are truly His people, we will not serve empire over Kingdom. If we are truly His Church, we will rise from our wounds and walk together again. Let the Catholic Church in Africa become a river—wide, deep, and life-giving. Let it flow across borders. Let it nourish the dry places. Let it flood every tribe with grace. Let it wash away the stains of colonialism—and reveal the face of Christ in every nation, every tongue, and every heart. The time is now. Africa, arise. Church, unite. Christ, be glorified.