Candlelit Devotion: In a small room in western Kenya, followers of the Legion Maria movement dressed in spotless white and gathered this Christmas to honor what they call the “Black Messiah.” Flickering candles lit up faces lifted in fervent prayer as worshippers stared at a portrait of Mama Maria, the African woman who co-founded the church.
Prophet Shows the Face of God: AFP reporters met Prophet Stephen Benson Nundu, holding a framed photo of Baba Simeo Melchior — the man hailed by millions as the “Black Messiah.” Clasped hands and a massive medallion marked his image, which followers believe is the true face of Jesus Christ.
“Today is a great day, because the Virgin Mary gave birth to King Jesus in the world of Black people,” Nundu proclaimed.
A Black Jesus? Founded in 1966, Legion Maria traces its mystical roots back to 1938, when a mystic woman reportedly appeared to Roman Catholics, declaring that the Son of God would appear as a Black man. Baba Simeo Melchior, later named Baba Messiah, is venerated as the “returned son of God” and the church’s eternal spiritual leader.
Millions Across Africa: The movement now claims millions of devotees in Kenya and eight other African nations, including Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Not a Cult, Says Church Leader: Timothy Lucas Abawao, deputy head of the church, rejected claims that Legion Maria is a cult. “A cult believes only in the leader. We believe in Jesus Christ, and we believe in God,” he said during Christmas celebrations in Nzoia, one of the movement’s key worship sites.
Jesus for Africans: Abawao added, “Baba Messiah came for Africans,” with followers firmly convinced that he is Jesus incarnate.
A Christmas Like No Other: Chanting, prayers, and fervent devotion filled the Nzoia worship site, as believers celebrated the birth of the Black Messiah — a vision of faith that continues to captivate millions across the continent.
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