“Return My Power, or You Die!” Charismatic Church and Political Leaders Hankering for What in Africa?

Abstract

Some theories separate church from state. They argue that neither should meddle in the affairs of the other. The separation, however, seems increasingly blurred in Africa, as politicians seem to be replacing professionals and advisers who are technocrats with charismatic church leaders. The church leaders, on their part, seem to be stepping into and gaining influence in political spaces where power has traditionally been contested between politicians and for the application of state authority. The aim of this chapter is two-fold: to theoretically engage with debates on the notions of church and state vis-à-vis church–state relations, and in relation to Africa; and to empirically examine how some church leaders in selected African countries step outside the ecclesiastical lane to negotiate spaces of (political) influence in state arena where secular experts/technocrats operate. Questions arise about what drives this behavior on either side of the relations and the implications for state governance. The analysis in the chapter is based on a review of literature on the church, state, state governance, and church–state relations and a critical analysis of popular and legacy media content that depicts relationships between charismatic church leaders and political leaders in Africa. African (would-be and) political leaders consult charismatic church leaders for prophetic prayers, anointing and religious paraphernalia that promise them an advantage over political opponents, and this indebts the political leaders to the church leaders. But then, what do the latter expect in return?