Summary

The article covers the history of prophets and prophecy in Eastern Africa in the 19th and 20th centuries, up to Independence. It divides the field into two contrasting zones of interest that can be usefully compared. One includes the southern Sudan, northeast Uganda, and Kenya; the other has parts of southern Malawi and northern Zambia. Earlier attempts to write on this topic have been baffled by conceptual and terminological difficulties—what exactly are prophets?—and the earlier predominance of sociological enquiry that assumed that “politics” rather than “religion” should be the focus. This article stresses the importance of understanding the “religious” aspect of prophecy and the allegiance to prophets. Prophets and their followers were driven by their awareness of the presence of spiritual agents who intervened in human affairs and with whom communication was possible—without an understanding of this, analysis fails. The article also considers prophets’ followings and the study of prophecy (as a separate topic).